City centre hotel occupancy rates rocket to 90% in June thanks to Cricket World Cup

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup contributed to hotels across Manchester being almost full throughout June.

Chairman of Manchester Hoteliers’ Association (MHA), Adrian Ellis, said concerts and short-term visitors to the city also helped hotel occupancy rates rocket to 90% last month.

Emirates Old Trafford hosted Cricket World Cup matches including India versus Pakistan, England versus Afghanistan, Australia against South Africa and the semi-final between New Zealand and India.

Adrian said hotels have benefited from the influx of visitors, as has the rest of the city.

He said: “Old Trafford hosted more Cricket World Cup matches than any other host city or town and hotels across the city saw occupancy rates rise to 90% during June.

“We’ve certainly witnessed a World Cup fever here in the city, which, of course, had the perfect ending when England won the tournament in the most dramatic of circumstances.”

He added: “What’s been great, though, is the vast array of visitors from around the globe who travelled to Manchester to support their country in cricket’s elite international tournament.

“With a variety of concerts also held, as well as good transient demand, June has been one of the best months on record for city centre hotels.”

Adrian also said he is optimistic about future boosts to Manchester’s hospitality economy in the months ahead, with the return of the football season in August and the hosting of The Conservative Party Conference at Manchester Central from Sunday, September 29 to Wednesday, October 2.

“With Manchester City and Manchester United beginning a new season next month, as well as huge music concerts and The Conservative Party Conference all coming soon, hoteliers and those working in hospitality are confident that this will bring in further strong business across the city.”

Michael Hewson, general manager at Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford, said: “Our role as hosts of the ICC Cricket World Cup has had an incredibly positive effect across the city, including an estimated £32m economic boost across Manchester.

“Across the city, hotel occupancy rates increased, including our on-site our Hilton Garden Inn that welcomed more than 3,000 guests over the course of the tournament.

“Our first match, India v Pakistan, which is the biggest game in world cricket and watched by an estimated global TV audience of over 1 billion, saw the hotel break its occupancy record with over 800 people in the hotel at any one time.

“I am incredibly proud of all our staff for providing a world-class experience for visitors and playing their part in showcasing the city’s role in hosting international sport.”

He added: “We are now busy preparing for the Ashes which takes place at Emirates Old Trafford in just over a month’s time and we’re expecting to see another uplift in demand for hotel rooms both here and across the city.

“Everyone at the club is incredibly proud to have played a role in what is a momentous year both for Lancashire Cricket and for Manchester.”