Those who regularly observe the Manchester skyline will know that it is a landscape of constant change. Cranes reflect on shiny new glass as tall buildings rise up beyond the clouds. As the city we know and love undergoes a significant architectural and economic transformation, so does its hospitality landscape.
Within the new Manchester skyline sit a variety of luxury brands, amongst them Aloft by Marriott, The Medlock, W Hotel, Treehouse and Soho House, to name just a few. These heavyweight brands have contributed to a shift towards destination storytelling for Manchester hospitality brands. Hotels are not just places to stay; they are cultural assets shaping how the city is experienced, shared, and searched.
With world-class brands popping up all over the city, Manchester has officially cemented its status as the UK’s hospitality powerhouse. The latest Colliers UK Hotel Development Index 2026 confirms this, with Manchester and Liverpool having surged into the UK’s Top 10 cities for hotel development. Beyond more beds, this marks a total identity shift for the North West.
The economic impact
The number of jobs created by the hospitality industry cannot be understated, with the economic impact of the visitor economy across Greater Manchester set to increase to £15 billion.*
Each new hotel opening contributes to this, not only directly but also indirectly by:
- Driving footfall across the city.
- Supporting Manchester restaurants, bars and nightlife.
- Boosting cultural venues such as The Co-op Live.
How hotel PR in 2026 has fundamentally changed
Not only has the Manchester skyline changed, but with it so has the PR landscape. With increasing competition, a hotel launch is no longer won through traditional advertising or ribbon-cutting coverage. Visibility is driven by cultural relevance, search performance, and social storytelling.
For hospitality brands, these five factors can be particularly important for success:
- Buying into the brand with storytelling
Guests don’t just book rooms, they buy into stories. Rooftop bars, design details, and reputation matter. Consumers already expect the amenities, but they are truly sold by the story of the brand. This story should be consistent across all platforms, especially social media.
- Leveraging influencer relationships
The power of influencers when it comes to hotel marketing cannot be understated, and this goes beyond complimentary stays. The most effective strategies ensure the right influencers are being seen at your hotel, as well as building brand advocates via ongoing creator relationships.
- Tapping into Manchester’s cultural calender
When it comes to SEO, ranking for ‘hotels in Manchester’ is no longer enough. Successful hotel brands align themselves with cultural moments and events to generate high-authority backlinks and organic search visibility. It also embeds the brand in Manchester’s thriving social scene.
- Having a standout social media aesthetic
Every new development contributes to the city’s visual identity and in turn, its share of voice across social platforms. In a landscape dominated by TikTok, Instagram, and experiential travel content, hotels must be designed to be:
- Iconic
- Shareable
- Instantly recognisable
- Culturally embedded
In other words, aesthetic is no longer decoration – it is a strategy in its own right.
- Securing the right earned media
In a competitive landscape, authentic earned media cannot be overlooked when it comes to cutting through the noise and getting the city talking. Securing the right earned media is key to boosting organic SEO and brand credibility. A Manchester PR agency is primed for the task with a network of local journalists and influencers.
Having delivered social media marketing and PR for a variety of hospitality businesses and hotels in Manchester and the UK, including The Reach at Piccadilly and Aloft by Marriott, we know how to keep people talking long after the initial hotel launch.
In a city that moves this fast, your PR strategy needs to be as bold as the architecture. Talk to us to make that happen.
*https://tourism.marketingmanchester.com/https://tourism.marketingmanchester.com/
