Spring News 2020

Emirates Old Trafford

Emirates Old Trafford, home of Lancashire Cricket, is an award-winning venue. Over the last ten years, the venue has undergone a £60m transformation, making it one of the most desirable conference and event venues in the north west. The Club recently announced it is progressing plans for further significant development at Emirates Old Trafford alongside the Council’s developing proposals.

Trafford Council and its partners have taken a major step forward in delivering ambitious plans to transform the area around the Town Hall and surrounding buildings into a new ‘Civic Quarter.’ Proposals for the area include building a new leisure centre; an improved public realm, opportunities for new homes and offices and improved cycle and pedestrian routes.

The new 4,850-seater stand, which replaces the existing Red Rose Suite, is set to feature a pitch-view suite, enhanced Members facilities, a heritage centre, ticket office and retail shop which will face directly on to Brian Statham Way. It will take the capacity of Emirates Old Trafford to 26,700, making it the largest cricket ground outside of London.

Also included in the Club’s plans are an extension of the existing Hilton Garden Inn hotel due to the huge continued success since opening two years ago.

Hyatt House & Hyatt Regency

Travellers to Manchester can now opt to stay in one of the city’s new world-class Hyatt hotels; Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House Manchester are the hotel group’s newest hotels to the UK, opened on 10^th January 2020, and are cleverly positioned on a peaceful square yet they both offer effortless access to Manchester’s City Centre and its major transport hubs and attractions. Whether travelling for business or leisure, guests are empowered with the freedom and flexibility to engage and connect, or recharge and relax.

Manchester’s Hyatt Regency is an inviting upscale hotel featuring an exciting suite of meeting and conferencing facilities, business services and a celebrated restaurant onsite with a choice of room types, including Regency Club rooms and suites with complementary access to the exclusive Regency Club Lounge.

Offering a true home-from-home experience, Hyatt House Manchester is the very first Hyatt House hotel property in the UK, offering a mix of modern studio and one-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens, a 24-hour gym, complimentary laundry facilities and panoramic views over Manchester.

intu Trafford Centre

With its stunning architecture, and rich range of shopping and leisure, a day at intu Trafford Centre is never dull. As one of the UK’s biggest shopping centres, there’s something for everyone.

From Michael Kors to Coach - whatever the brand of the moment, you’ll find it at intu Trafford Centre. Hit up all your high street favourites such as Topshop, River Island, Pull&Bear, M&S and Zara.

Whether it’s a light bite or a three-course meal, fuel your visit with over 65 restaurants, cafes and bars to choose from. Discover San Carlos champagne bar in Selfridges’ Accessories Hall; perfect for a glass of fizz or two!

The little (and big ones!) will be spoilt for choice with LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Sea Life, Paradise Island Adventure Golf, bowling, ODEON IMAX cinema, and many more.

The incredible transformation of Barton Square will be complete in spring, complete with a two-storey Primark store.

With unforgettable events happening all-year round, there’s always something new and exciting happening at intu Trafford Centre - no two visits are ever the same!

Macdonald Hotel

This year Macdonald Manchester is focusing on wellbeing. Starting with the mind.  By developing a stronger understanding of your own mind and yourself, you can mature in to your best self.

There are several benefits to meditation; reducing stress, slows down the aging process, fight addictions, improves sleep and many more benefits.

The meditation class shall be taking place in the morning and evenings at their award-winning Spa.

For £10 per person you will have a meditation class, free parking and access to the Spa’s Thermal suite that features hot rock sauna, infrared sauna, eucalyptus scented steam room, sensation shower, ice igloo and heated. additionally, they have an onsite gym available for before or after your meditation class.

Please click here for more information and to book.

Contactless travel has been introduced on Manchester's tram network

With frequent trams from early until late every day, Metrolink is perfect for getting across the city centre and also provides connections to some of the best places to visit further afield. It’s not surprising that it’s a popular way for visitors to get around Greater Manchester.

The introduction of zones, similar to those in London, make it easy to choose tickets for flexible travel but now visitors can choose to travel contactless and not worry about tickets at all.

Tram travellers just turn up and touch-in before starting a journey, at the smart readers on tram stops, and touch-out at their destination, with the same contactless card or device. Metrolink works out the relevant adult single and travelcard prices for the journeys, up to a daily cap.

Fares start at £1.40 for a short hop up to £7 for a 1-day anytime travelcard (and £4.80 off-peak) for all zones. As long as customers remember to touch-in and touch-out at the start and end of each journey, they won’t pay any more.

It’s part of Greater Manchester’s mission to make travelling around even easier. You can find all the details at tfgm.com/contactless

Group travel organisers can also contact customerservices@metrolink.co.uk for information on tickets for group travel and find all the ticket prices at tfgm.com/fares, along with a Metrolink map showing the zones.