Venue Updata
From Britain's best office view to a bevy of Mexican launches, via birthdays in Birmingham and ballrooms in Manchester, it's a booming month for Venue Updata
Hilton London Metropole announces West Wing refurbishment with 363 new family bedrooms
Hilton London Metropole, the largest Hilton outside of the US, has announced a multimillion-pound refurbishment of its West Wing, delivering 363 newly redesigned bedrooms created specifically to meet growing demand for family travel to London.
Refurbishment works are currently progressing on a floor-by-floor basis, with the full West Wing reopening from November 2026.
The headline product is the Four Queen Bed Family Connecting Room, which combines two adjoining dual-queen rooms to create a single accommodation offering sleeping up to eight guests. With five of these configurations available, Hilton London Metropole claims it will offer one of the most substantial family room products in central London.
Radisson Blu Medlock Hotel, Manchester opens at Medlock Square
Radisson Blu Medlock Hotel, Manchester, a new 401-room upper-upscale hotel at the heart of Medlock Square on Manchester’s Etihad Campus, has opened. The hotel is the first development by Manchester City Football Club in partnership with Radisson Hotel Group.
Located adjacent to the Etihad Stadium and Co-op Live arena, with direct Metrolink connections to Manchester city centre, this is the first development within Medlock Square to be completed.
On the doorstep of the hotel, and set to open later this year, Medlock Square will bring together restaurants, bars and cafés alongside a new immersive Manchester City museum experience, stadium roof walk and zip-wire, and a 3,000-capacity covered events space hosting seasonal activations, live shows, sports screenings and brand collaborations.
The hotel features 401 guestrooms and suites, including Standard, Premium and Deluxe Rooms, Pitch View Rooms that can be converted into hospitality suites on matchdays, One-Bedroom Suites and a two-storey, two-bedroom, two-bathroom Penthouse with panoramic views across the city.
Guests have access to more than 30 flexible event spaces across the Etihad Campus, including Medlock Square's outdoor activation space for up to 3,000 guests, alongside premium hospitality facilities within the Etihad Stadium. The hotel's exclusive penthouse also provides an intimate venue for private celebrations and executive gatherings of up to 50 guests.
Hilton Birmingham Metropole celebrates 50 Years with immersive showcase
Hilton Birmingham Metropole marked its 50th anniversary in spectacular style last month, welcoming event buyers, agencies and industry partners for an immersive celebration that showcased the hotel's creativity and vision for the future of events.
Guests were invited on a journey through the venue, experiencing transformed event spaces, guided site visits, live entertainment, innovative production and an evening of celebration that demonstrated the scale and versatility of the UK's largest conference hotel outside London. With a theme of “A Merry Un-Birthday”, inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Hilton Birmingham Metropole was transformed into a whimsical wonderland.
The milestone allowed the Hilton Birmingham Metropole team to demonstrate its new Strategic Event Partner Programme, which brings together a carefully selected network of trusted event specialists to provide clients with a seamless, fully integrated event delivery experience.
RCP London Events highlights growing social impact of venue choice
Following the International Day of Charity on 5 September, RCP London Events is highlighting how the choices organisations make when planning events can have a wider social impact.
All events revenue from the venue contributes to the work of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), a registered charity whose work focuses on educating, improving and influencing for better health and care. This creates a different relationship between an event and its host venue as the spend associated with bringing people together can also help support work with a wider public benefit.
The social impact extends to the venue’s food and beverage provision. Through Company of Cooks, the venue’s catering supplier, RCP London Events supports Well Grounded, a social enterprise helping people facing barriers to employment to develop careers in the coffee industry. The Community Blend coffee served at the venue contributes funds towards Well Grounded academies.
RCP London Events’ head of commercial events, Natacha Allen, says: “The events industry has a real opportunity to think more broadly about the value it creates and how bringing people together can also contribute to causes and communities beyond the event itself. At RCP London Events, our connection to the Royal College of Physicians and our partnership with Well Grounded are examples of how social impact can be built into the way events are delivered.”
Portmarnock Resort launches flexible coastal event packages for corporate groups
As it celebrates its 30th birthday, Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Golf Links has launched ‘Meet by the coast’, a new collection of flexible corporate event packages for guests looking for more interesting event locations and activities.
The new packages at Dublin’s only coastal resort will act as a ‘pick and mix’ menu, allowing clients to uniquely tailor events to their specific needs.
Although 2026 marks the resort’s 30th birthday, the historic property dates back much earlier. At its heart is the former home of the Jameson whiskey family, built in the 1850s alongside an adjoining golf course. Today, the property still reflects that heritage, with features including the popular Jameson Bar paying tribute to its original owners.
Some of the options on the ‘Meet by the coast’ pick and mix menu will be resort based. These include special golf clinics or ‘beat the pro’ matches with Brendan Walton, coastal-themed spa treatments such as seaweed baths, beach activities, sea swims and tailored team building sessions run by external specialists. Dining can also be offered on site in one of several restaurants or event spaces, including corporate barbecues in the Secret Garden. In addition, companies can hire the Síbín as a private traditional Irish pub where guests can pull their own pints. A wide range of external dining options are also available.
The Midland unveils flexible meeting and event spaces in the heart of Manchester
The Midland Hotel has unveiled its elevated meeting and event spaces in the centre of Manchester. One of the city’s most famous hotels, The Midland has been the setting for moments in history, from hosting one of Churchill’s most memorable wartime speeches to being the venue for the first meeting between Charles Rolls and Henry Royce.
Specialising in everything from large scale conferences and gala dinners to award ceremonies and black-tie celebrations, The Midland offers a flexible range of 10 meeting and event rooms, as well as 312 rooms and suites, the RENA Spa and three onsite restaurants – Mount Street Dining Room & Bar, Adam Reid at The French and The Tea Room.
Situated on the ground floor, the Alexandra Suite is The Midland’s largest conference and event room, combining two meeting spaces to offer a capacity of 700 for a standing reception and 650 for a theatre-style setup. Recently refurbished, the space is suitable for large dining events, gala dinners, charity fundraisers, award ceremonies, and black-tie celebrations, accommodating up to 500 guests banquet-style.
For mid-sized gatherings, the Trafford Suite can accommodate up to 230 guests seated and 300 for a standing reception, with a variety of layout options. With a permanent chandelier at its centre and panoramic views over St Peter’s Square, the room features elegant blue and white panelled walls, decorative plasterwork and tall arched windows dressed in rich silk drapery.
Britain’s best office view? Work from historic Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle, one of Britain’s most iconic historic buildings, is inviting guests to swap the four walls of their home or office for a unique workation experience. Reimagining the working day to include moments of leisure, culture and history, guests can work overlooking the castle’s glorious parkland and moat, enjoy a peaceful lunch with a good book in the castle’s Culpeper Garden, and replace the evening commute with a rejuvenating sunset stroll around the estate’s 550-acre grounds.
Just an hour from central London near Kent’s county town of Maidstone, the 900-year-old Leeds Castle offers the perfect balance of productivity and escapism. Alongside reliable Wi-Fi*, ample power outlets, complimentary tea and coffee, a comfortable desk and dedicated workspace, guests can enjoy the historical ambience, sweeping views and sense of tranquillity that inspires fresh thinking and sparks curiosity.
Adagio renews its partnership with London Stadium
Adagio, the European leader in aparthotels, is renewing its partnership with London Stadium, strengthening its position as a preferred accommodation partner for major events in East London. The collaboration offers spectators, event professionals, teams and partners flexible stays close to the multi-purpose venue, helping extend the live event experience beyond the stadium itself.
With four aparthotels across Greater London, Adagio continues to strengthen its presence in one of Europe’s most dynamic capitals. The renewal of this partnership, ongoing since 2022, reflects the brand’s ambition to connect accommodation with major urban experiences, from sport and culture to business and live entertainment.
This collaboration is part of Adagio’s FIRST 2030 strategic plan, which aims to develop partnerships with cultural, sporting and economic stakeholders in the destinations where the brand operates, while supporting new ways of travelling, working and experiencing the city.
Hyde Hotels makes Latin American debut in Mexico City
Hyde Hotels has just made its Latin American debut with the opening of Hyde Mexico City Reforma on the Paseo de la Reforma.
The 106-room lifestyle hotel brings Hyde’s signature bohemian, music-led spirit to one of Mexico City’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, overlooking the Ángel de la Independencia and surrounded by galleries, boutiques, restaurants, bars and nightlife.
Food and drink is a big part of the experience, with Enzu Restaurant & Bar opening this month, bringing together contemporary Japanese cuisine, Mexican-grown produce and Ensenada seafood, alongside an omakase counter, robata grill and cocktail bar. Sun & Moon, a neighbourhood-style coffee spot by day and cocktail lounge by night, will follow in autumn.
Coventry’s rich story told in a fresh new visitor guide
Coventry has a brand new visitor guide to showcase the city’s rich heritage, diverse culture and outstanding visitor attractions.
The official visitor guide, produced by Visit Coventry, brings the city’s story to life, describing it as the ‘music and motor city’ on the vibrant front cover.
The 50-page digital guide delves into music, sport, theatre, galleries, museums, cultural venues, transport and heritage highlighting some of Coventry’s world-famous stories
and places as well as some of its best-kept secrets.
It also showcases the city’s events programme, independent businesses, green spaces and its food and drink offer.
The Eastside Rooms expands practical support for neuroinclusive events
The Eastside Rooms has expanded the practical support available to organisers planning neuroinclusive events, bringing its guidance, trained team, pre-arrival information and on-site facilities together into a clearer offer for clients and delegates.
The approach builds on the venue becoming the first in the UK to achieve Gold Neuroinclusive Venue Accreditation from Welcome Brain Consulting in 2025. Rather than treating the accreditation as an end point, The Eastside Rooms has continued to embed neuroinclusion across the full delegate journey, from the first enquiry and pre-event communication to room setup, arrival, participation and feedback.
Organisers can now draw on a practical combination of support, including:
- Early conversations with the venue team about the needs of delegates, speakers and event staff.
- Organiser checklists, sample attendee wording and neuroinclusion FAQs to support clear communication.
- Visual travel guidance, an interactive floor plan and a virtual venue tour so delegates can understand their journey and surroundings in advance.
- Flexible room layouts with seating choice, easier access to exits and the option to identify quieter areas and lower-sensory routes.
- Practical consideration of lighting, sound, signage, registration queues, breaks and other elements that can contribute to sensory overload.
- Access to the permanent Wellness Room and other quieter spaces where attendees can step away from the main event.
The Wellness Room began as a temporary initiative for the 2025 ABPCO Festival of Learning. Positive delegate feedback led to it becoming a permanent feature. Designed as a calm retreat from busy event spaces, it includes relaxed seating, softer adjustable lighting, noise-cancelling headphones and simple activities such as cards and colouring.
Wyboston duo will see how their coffee sales support Kenyan schools and farmers
After partnering with Paddy & Scott’s craft coffee producers for more than eight years, Steve Jones and Simon McMahon of Wyboston Lakes Resort are about to visit schools and coffee-growing communities in Meru, Kenya which Paddy & Scott’s supports through direct-trade partnerships and ethical initiatives.
The Resort co-created Paddy & Scott’s ‘fuelling stations’ which offer the company’s Impact Coffee Ranges, with the proceeds from their Mount Kenya and People's Harvest blends directly funding student meals, farm infrastructure and educational resources.
Steve (CEO) and Simon (Operations Director) will spend time in a classroom at Ruiga Primary School reading a story and answering questions about the UK. At the Girls Boarding School they will see the progress of works while at the newly completed Ruiga Primary & Mixed Day kitchen they will support in preparing food. After watching students playing rugby in newly provided kit, they will visit local land leased by Paddy & Scott’s to make the ‘Lunchbox’ programme sustainable and self-sufficient.
Finally, at Muchomba Family Farm, they will have a full coffee farm tour to see and appreciate what goes into every cup and how their partnership has been changing lives.
Steve Jones says: “We are totally committed to our partnership with Paddy & Scott’s because of the superb quality of the coffee they produce and, of equal importance, because of their commitment to ethic sourcing and supporting the communities who grow the coffee beans. Seeing the good that these partnerships are creating will be an unforgettable experience.”
Park Hyatt arrives in Riviera Maya with the brand’s first all-inclusive experience
The arrival of Park Hyatt Riviera Maya in November 2026 aims to mark the next phase of a new chapter for Park Hyatt and redefine the standard for luxury travellers seeking the beachside serenity of the Riviera Maya.
As the first Park Hyatt branded all-inclusive resort, the property will bring the storied hotel collection’s lauded culinary expertise, the modern luxury Park Hyatt experience, and uncompromising service standards to a new format.
The launch comes amid a wave of new developments for Park Hyatt, both globally and particularly in Mexico - a rapidly emerging destination. The first Park Hyatt foray into Mexico, Park Hyatt Cabo del Sol opened its doors on the wild sands of Baja California in December 2025, and Park Hyatt Mexico City is slated to bring its distinctive ethos of effortless glamour to the capital in early 2027.