The Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford picked up the much-coveted ‘Hotel Top Team of the Year’ award last week at the Manchester Hoteliers Association Annual Awards, whilst two members of the team were recognised individually.The Manchester Hoteliers Association Awards are a celebration of Manchester’s bustling hospitality scene, capitalising on the city’s growing international stature, and its increasing profile as a centre of excellence for meetings and events. At the same time, the awards recognised the unique achievements of Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford, which, on top of completing the expansion project, delivered beyond expectations, both in terms of its business performance and customer satisfaction. The hotel operated at record levels of occupancy (80%, including the new rooms) and revenue, with more guests visiting the hotel than previous years.The venue, which announced the completion of a £75m investment project, including an extension to 250 state-of-the-art bedrooms, last year, also gained recognition in two other individual categories at the awards.The hotel has already carved out a unique position in Manchester’s hotel market, with half the rooms offering pitch facing balconies, in what is widely seen as one of the most stunning bedroom views in the city. The additional room space, which complemented the venue’s already highly respected meetings and events business, spurred the businesses positioning as Destination Emirates Old Trafford and supported its contribution of £22.5 million to the local economy, over the course of 2023.Daniel Gidney, Lancashire Cricket Chief Executive, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of our hotel team at Emirates Old Trafford and what a thoroughly deserving award it is.“2023 was always going to be the busiest year our Hilton Garden Inn has ever had. Not only did the venue host an Ashes Test Match, Lancashire men’s and women’s teams and The Hundred, two Arctic Monkey concerts and a hugely busy Conference & Event year, we extended the hotel by a further 100 bedrooms and launched a new restaurant, event and hospitality space, The Edge. The hotel extension was delivered on budget and ahead of schedule and, without the great teamwork and spirit that this team possess, we would not have been able to deliver the year that we did. It was a phenomenal effort from the whole team.“Our off-field business continues to thrive, and the hotel is a hugely important part of that. This year, for the first time in the Club’s 160-year history, the hotel will generate more revenue that Emirates Old Trafford hosting international fixtures.“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our hotel staff for their hard work throughout the year, and we look forward to another record year in 2024.”The award judges also added: “…the team not only operate well as a hotel unity, but as a part of the greater entity of Lancashire Cricket Club. Having to learn new working practices in a hotel that has increased its capacity and hospitality space overnight and hitting the ground running to deliver the additional events they had on, is a testament to their team ethos and attitude.”As well as the Hotel Top Team of the Year award, The Hilton Garden Inn, Emirates Old Trafford, was also recognised in two individual awards. Caitlin Shaw was awarded a One to Watch Certificate in the Rising Star category, while and Ian Platt was a finalist in the Front of House Customer Service award.
The Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford picked up the much-coveted ‘Hotel Top Team of the Year’ award last week at the Manchester Hoteliers Association Annual Awards, whilst two members of the team were recognised individually.
The Manchester Hoteliers Association Awards are a celebration of Manchester’s bustling hospitality scene, capitalising on the city’s growing international stature, and its increasing profile as a centre of excellence for meetings and events. At the same time, the awards recognised the unique achievements of Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford, which, on top of completing the expansion project, delivered beyond expectations, both in terms of its business performance and customer satisfaction. The hotel operated at record levels of occupancy (80%, including the new rooms) and revenue, with more guests visiting the hotel than previous years.
The venue, which announced the completion of a £75m investment project, including an extension to 250 state-of-the-art bedrooms, last year, also gained recognition in two other individual categories at the awards.
The hotel has already carved out a unique position in Manchester’s hotel market, with half the rooms offering pitch facing balconies, in what is widely seen as one of the most stunning bedroom views in the city. The additional room space, which complemented the venue’s already highly respected meetings and events business, spurred the businesses positioning as Destination Emirates Old Trafford and supported its contribution of £22.5 million to the local economy, over the course of 2023.
Daniel Gidney, Lancashire Cricket Chief Executive, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of our hotel team at Emirates Old Trafford and what a thoroughly deserving award it is.
“2023 was always going to be the busiest year our Hilton Garden Inn has ever had. Not only did the venue host an Ashes Test Match, Lancashire men’s and women’s teams and The Hundred, two Arctic Monkey concerts and a hugely busy Conference & Event year, we extended the hotel by a further 100 bedrooms and launched a new restaurant, event and hospitality space, The Edge. The hotel extension was delivered on budget and ahead of schedule and, without the great teamwork and spirit that this team possess, we would not have been able to deliver the year that we did. It was a phenomenal effort from the whole team.
“Our off-field business continues to thrive, and the hotel is a hugely important part of that. This year, for the first time in the Club’s 160-year history, the hotel will generate more revenue that Emirates Old Trafford hosting international fixtures.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our hotel staff for their hard work throughout the year, and we look forward to another record year in 2024.”
The award judges also added: “…the team not only operate well as a hotel unity, but as a part of the greater entity of Lancashire Cricket Club. Having to learn new working practices in a hotel that has increased its capacity and hospitality space overnight and hitting the ground running to deliver the additional events they had on, is a testament to their team ethos and attitude.”
As well as the Hotel Top Team of the Year award, The Hilton Garden Inn, Emirates Old Trafford, was also recognised in two individual awards. Caitlin Shaw was awarded a One to Watch Certificate in the Rising Star category, while and Ian Platt was a finalist in the Front of House Customer Service award.
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The Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford picked up the much-coveted ‘Hotel Top Team of the Year’ award last week at the Manchester Hoteliers Association Annual Awards, whilst two members of the team were recognised individually.The Manchester Hoteliers Association Awards are a celebration of Manchester’s bustling hospitality scene, capitalising on the city’s growing international stature, and its increasing profile as a centre of excellence for meetings and events. At the same time, the awards recognised the unique achievements of Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford, which, on top of completing the expansion project, delivered beyond expectations, both in terms of its business performance and customer satisfaction. The hotel operated at record levels of occupancy (80%, including the new rooms) and revenue, with more guests visiting the hotel than previous years.The venue, which announced the completion of a £75m investment project, including an extension to 250 state-of-the-art bedrooms, last year, also gained recognition in two other individual categories at the awards.The hotel has already carved out a unique position in Manchester’s hotel market, with half the rooms offering pitch facing balconies, in what is widely seen as one of the most stunning bedroom views in the city. The additional room space, which complemented the venue’s already highly respected meetings and events business, spurred the businesses positioning as Destination Emirates Old Trafford and supported its contribution of £22.5 million to the local economy, over the course of 2023.Daniel Gidney, Lancashire Cricket Chief Executive, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of our hotel team at Emirates Old Trafford and what a thoroughly deserving award it is.“2023 was always going to be the busiest year our Hilton Garden Inn has ever had. Not only did the venue host an Ashes Test Match, Lancashire men’s and women’s teams and The Hundred, two Arctic Monkey concerts and a hugely busy Conference & Event year, we extended the hotel by a further 100 bedrooms and launched a new restaurant, event and hospitality space, The Edge. The hotel extension was delivered on budget and ahead of schedule and, without the great teamwork and spirit that this team possess, we would not have been able to deliver the year that we did. It was a phenomenal effort from the whole team.“Our off-field business continues to thrive, and the hotel is a hugely important part of that. This year, for the first time in the Club’s 160-year history, the hotel will generate more revenue that Emirates Old Trafford hosting international fixtures.“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our hotel staff for their hard work throughout the year, and we look forward to another record year in 2024.”The award judges also added: “…the team not only operate well as a hotel unity, but as a part of the greater entity of Lancashire Cricket Club. Having to learn new working practices in a hotel that has increased its capacity and hospitality space overnight and hitting the ground running to deliver the additional events they had on, is a testament to their team ethos and attitude.”As well as the Hotel Top Team of the Year award, The Hilton Garden Inn, Emirates Old Trafford, was also recognised in two individual awards. Caitlin Shaw was awarded a One to Watch Certificate in the Rising Star category, while and Ian Platt was a finalist in the Front of House Customer Service award.
The Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford picked up the much-coveted ‘Hotel Top Team of the Year’ award last week at the Manchester Hoteliers Association Annual Awards, whilst two members of the team were recognised individually.The Manchester Hoteliers Association Awards are a celebration of Manchester’s bustling hospitality scene, capitalising on the city’s growing international stature, and its increasing profile as a centre of excellence for meetings and events. At the same time, the awards recognised the unique achievements of Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford, which, on top of completing the expansion project, delivered beyond expectations, both in terms of its business performance and customer satisfaction. The hotel operated at record levels of occupancy (80%, including the new rooms) and revenue, with more guests visiting the hotel than previous years.The venue, which announced the completion of a £75m investment project, including an extension to 250 state-of-the-art bedrooms, last year, also gained recognition in two other individual categories at the awards.The hotel has already carved out a unique position in Manchester’s hotel market, with half the rooms offering pitch facing balconies, in what is widely seen as one of the most stunning bedroom views in the city. The additional room space, which complemented the venue’s already highly respected meetings and events business, spurred the businesses positioning as Destination Emirates Old Trafford and supported its contribution of £22.5 million to the local economy, over the course of 2023.Daniel Gidney, Lancashire Cricket Chief Executive, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of our hotel team at Emirates Old Trafford and what a thoroughly deserving award it is.“2023 was always going to be the busiest year our Hilton Garden Inn has ever had. Not only did the venue host an Ashes Test Match, Lancashire men’s and women’s teams and The Hundred, two Arctic Monkey concerts and a hugely busy Conference & Event year, we extended the hotel by a further 100 bedrooms and launched a new restaurant, event and hospitality space, The Edge. The hotel extension was delivered on budget and ahead of schedule and, without the great teamwork and spirit that this team possess, we would not have been able to deliver the year that we did. It was a phenomenal effort from the whole team.“Our off-field business continues to thrive, and the hotel is a hugely important part of that. This year, for the first time in the Club’s 160-year history, the hotel will generate more revenue that Emirates Old Trafford hosting international fixtures.“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our hotel staff for their hard work throughout the year, and we look forward to another record year in 2024.”The award judges also added: “…the team not only operate well as a hotel unity, but as a part of the greater entity of Lancashire Cricket Club. Having to learn new working practices in a hotel that has increased its capacity and hospitality space overnight and hitting the ground running to deliver the additional events they had on, is a testament to their team ethos and attitude.”As well as the Hotel Top Team of the Year award, The Hilton Garden Inn, Emirates Old Trafford, was also recognised in two individual awards. Caitlin Shaw was awarded a One to Watch Certificate in the Rising Star category, while and Ian Platt was a finalist in the Front of House Customer Service award.
Lime Venue Portfolio is set to release the third and final edition of its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Event Planning Guide series, with the ‘G’ Guide making its debut at The Meetings Show.
The comprehensive guides, released over the past year, address each element of ESG, offering practical frameworks for member venues and event organisers. The ‘E’ (Environmental) Guide was launched in November at the Event Sustainability Live, followed by the ‘S’ (Social) Guide at International Confex. Together, these resources form part of Lime Venue Portfolio’s wider commitment to advancing sustainability, social value, and long-term event legacies across the sector.
As part of this campaign, Lime Venue Portfolio will host its signature Roundtable sessions with event agency leaders at The Meetings Show, which runs from 25-26 June. A key highlight will be the ‘Governance: The Final Frontier in ESG’ session, which will delve into themes from the guide and discuss how the industry can demonstrate genuine progress through governance tools such as auditing, reporting, and compliance.
Jo Austin, Conference & Event Sustainability Lead at Compass UK&I and Sales Director at Lime Venue Portfolio, commented: “This series is about equipping organisers with tangible tools – from food waste reduction templates to guidance on communicating sustainability achievements. We believe these guides can drive real change across the events landscape.”
Delegates at The Meetings Show will be among the first to access the ‘G’ Guide and speak with Lime Venue Portfolio’s team about the complete ESG series. Following the event, the guide will also be available for public download via the content hub at www.limevenueportfolio.com.
The crew of Coastal Cruises Poole vessel Fortuna sprang into action today when two paddleboarders got into difficulty in the fast-moving waters of the Swash Channel, just outside Poole Harbour.
The incident occurred during the Poole – Swanage Jurassic Coast Cruise when Fortuna’s captain spotted the individuals struggling to stay afloat and clearly in distress. Responding without hesitation, the vessel’s crew coordinated swiftly with Solent Coastguard to initiate a rescue.
Thanks to the quick-thinking and professional conduct of Captain Jamie Moysey, Crew Luke Johnson, and Chris Furniss, both paddleboarders were brought safely onboard Fortuna and returned to shore unharmed.
“This is a perfect example of the high level of vigilance and seamanship our crews maintain at all times,” said Carol Scott, Managing Director at Coastal Cruises Poole. “We are extremely proud of Jamie, Luke, and Chris for their calm, capable handling of what could have been a very serious situation.”
This event underscores the vital role that commercial passenger vessels and trained crews can play in supporting marine safety in busy harbour areas.
Hilton Cambridge City Centre’s head chef, Ermal Cani has been crowned one of the winners of the Passion For Plating 2025 Aviko MasterChef competition, showcasing extraordinary culinary creativity and skill in one of the industry's most prestigious events.
Originally from Albania, chef Ermal discovered his passion for cooking after moving to the UK in 2000, transforming a hobby into a career through dedication and experience. Having worked at renowned establishments such as Hilton Hotels and Marco Pierre White restaurants, he has built a reputation for innovation and excellence. Currently, he serves as the executive head chef at Bull & Bass Restaurant, located within Hilton Cambridge City Centre, where he leads a team of 17 culinary professionals. His expertise in Mediterranean, Asian, and fusion cuisines shines
through in every dish, combining the finest ingredients from land and sea to create bold, mouth-watering flavors. Bull & Bass offers a diverse à la carte menu, alongside seasonal specials and its signature monthly Friday Supper Clubs, featuring Tanzanian nights, Surf & Turf, and seasonal-themed experiences, all designed to bring exciting global flavors to the heart of Cambridge.
Reflecting on his journey in the competition, chef Ermal highlighted the Dish Mystery Box challenge as his personal favourite. Given a selection of eight market ingredients, he crafted a charcoal-grilled cauliflower steak with a green peppercorn sauce, accompanied by vegan Aviko gratins. The challenge required instinctive creativity and quick thinking—qualities that define his approach to culinary artistry.
"Creating dishes that leave a lasting impression is what drives my passion for cooking. Seeing guests enjoy and appreciate the flavours I put together is the most rewarding part of the job," said Ermal Cani, head chef, Hilton Cambridge City Centre.
As part of his achievement, chef Ermal has been invited to Aviko HQ from October 14th to 16th, where he will tour their factory and gain deeper insights into their innovative food production. His remarkable success has also earned him an interview with Euronews Albania, further cementing his status as an emerging leader in the culinary industry.
The Passion For Plating competition, held annually, celebrates chefs who push the boundaries of creativity and excellence in plating. With this prestigious win, chef Ermal continues to inspire the next generation of culinary artists while redefining the dining experience for his guests.
Hilton Cambridge City Centre is part of Hilton Honors®, the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hilton’s 24 world-class brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else and free standard WiFi. Members also have access to contactless technology exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app, where Hilton Honors members can check-in, choose their room and access their room using Digital Key.
Hilton Cambridge City Centre is celebrating a remarkable achievement after securing two prestigious accolades at the SME Cambridgeshire Business Awards 2025.
The hotel was honoured with the Gold Award for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), recognising its exceptional commitment to responsible business practices and creating positive social and environmental impact. This award highlights organisations that prioritise sustainability, community engagement, and ethical operations—areas in which Hilton Cambridge City Centre has shown ongoing leadership.
In addition, the hotel received the Silver Award for Hospitality Business of the Year, a category that celebrates hospitality organisations delivering consistently outstanding service, exceeding guest expectations, and building lasting customer relationships. The award spans across a range of hospitality businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and event companies.
These accolades are a testament to the team’s dedication to excellence in both guest experience and corporate responsibility. Hilton Cambridge City Centre continues to set high standards in the region’s hospitality sector, and this recognition reflects the hard work and passion of the entire team.
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