University to push conference trade
THE University of Manchester is looking at ways to maximise the value of its commercial assets as the Government prepares to cut teaching budgets.
A department within the institution called STARS, which handles sport, accommodation, food and conferencing, is seeking to increase the university’s share of the city’s conferencing and hotel business.
It is positioning itself as a cheaper alternative to some of Manchester’s more well-known conference venues.
Its assets include Chancellors Hotel and Conference Centre in Fallowfield, University Place on Oxford Road which has a 1,000-seat lecture theatre, and a hotel and conference space at Manchester Business School. The conferencing arm of the university turned over £5.1m in the year to August.
STARS’ marketing manager Layton Quinton said: “Not many people realise the University has its own hotel but it’s an increasingly popular venue.
“The University’s unique selling point is the sheer range of venues we can offer people at a variety of costs to suit all needs. There really is something for everyone – from small meeting rooms to large lecture theatres – and all with in-house state-of-the-art AV technical support too, saving clients lots of money.”
A report for the lecturers’ union, the UCU, has warned that a third of England’s universities are at risk from Government cuts with some facing mergers or closure. It said plans to cut budgets and raise tuition fees could have a serious impact on 49 institutions. The University of Manchester was not singled out in the report.
