New £30m Crowne Plaza hotel for Manchester

Manchester is to boost its portfolio of upmarket hotels with the £30m development of the region's second Crowne Plaza.

Managed by Merseyside-based Central Island, the 228-room Crowne Plaza Manchester City Centre will open in July 2008.

It will have seven suites and 168 deluxe rooms, as well as meeting and conference facilities for up to 250 delegates.

Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said the development marked a major part of the ongoing expansion of the city.

"The quality and diversity of our hotel stock is a reflection of the increasing number of visitors who regard Manchester as a real destination of choice for both business and leisure," he said.

John Bamsey, UK and Ireland chief operating officer of InterContinental Hotels, which franchises the Crowne Plaza brand, said: "Manchester being the third biggest city in the UK, this fills a significant gap in our distribution. It demonstrates the strength and depth of our UK pipeline as we continue to attract significant investment in our brands."

The construction of the new hotel is being handled by Ician Developments.

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By Kerstin Kühn

E-mail your comments to Kerstin Kühn](mailto:kerstin.kuhn@rbi.co.uk?subject=New £30m Crowne Plaza hotel for Manchester) here.

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