UK: Staycity will open a new aparthotel in July, in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
This new building, which Staycity has taken a 25-year lease on, is nine-stories tall with 224 units. Units, which all include a kitchen or kitchenette, range from studios to apartments that can sleep up to four people.
The new-build facility will offer guests a number of amenities, including 24-hour reception, a cafe for breakfast, snacks, and drinks, and a pantry that sells other food items. The building also includes a lounge area, an exercise room, and a place for guests to do laundry.
The building itself, which is a part of Manchester’s New Cross Neighbourhood Development Framework, was designed by SimpsonHaugh Architects, developed by Catalyst Capital, and is owned by Knight Frank Investment Management.
The property, which is expected to draw demand from both leisure and corporate travellers, is located in close proximity to Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City Football Club, and the Central Retail District. The building is also a ten-minute walk from Victoria Station.
The new property will be the company’s second property in Manchester, with a third property’s opening also on the horizon. Staycity opened a property in Piccadilly’s Gateway House in 2017 and has plans to open a property in St. Peter’s Square in October 2021.
The Northern Quarter location will be the first UK property that the company has opened since lockdown began. This opening comes at a time when Staycity’s numbers are beginning to rise again, as people begin to resume travel. Staycity’s average occupancy in the UK in June was 71 per cent, and Manchester has seen particularly high demand, with its occupancy rate being around 90 per cent for June.
Development director UK for Staycity, Simon Walford, said: “Manchester is a hugely important location for Staycity with Piccadilly being one of our best-performing properties since it opened. In normal trading times Manchester has a strong influx of international visitors and even with the current travel restrictions in place the city is proving a popular destination for domestic visitors.”
The company has more expansion on the horizon, with plans to open nine properties in the next two years. By the end of this year, the company will be operating more than 5,000 apartments across Europe.
