Media centre

Monday 17 Jul 2006

NEW CONCEPT IN HOTELS FOR RAILWAY TOWNS

Region & Route:

Network Rail has negotiated a 99 year lease to hotel chain Sleeperz Manchester Ltd, which has been granted planning permission for a 75 bedroom hotel opposite the Fairfield Street entrance to Manchester’s Piccadilly station. Sleeperz already has a hotel in Cambridge and is opening one in Cardiff in the summer of 2007. A hotel in Newcastle will follow the opening of the one in Manchester and others are planned, all on land owned by Network Rail. Sleeperz is committed to its relationship with Network Rail and sees the building of new station hotels as a recreation of what was once a glorious tradition. To be glorious the Sleeperz brand must give way to the local constraints and opportunities, so each of its hotels will be different in style reflecting the design/city context in which the hotel is located. In the same way that Sleeperz must listen to its customers, it must similarly listen the cities in which it seeks to locate. John Pike, Network Rail’s Director, Commercial Property said: “We are continually striving to maximise value from our property portfolio and we are delighted to be working with Sleeperz in identifying suitable sites for this new chain of ‘glorious’ railway hotels.” The Manchester hotel will sit on a wedge of land between the station and the railway viaduct, and rise six floors above the ground floor. The design is unquestionably modern and the façade will be a mix of metal and glass. Operating in what is now called the limited service sector of the hotel market (until recently known as the budget sector), Sleeperz management team believes there is an opportunity to develop a niche hotel product. Barrie Munn, Sleeperz chief executive officer, explains the current thinking; “A hotel is a challenging place – as a customer you decide to mix and sleep in the same building as strangers – really the only time this happens on a voluntary basis – so the hotel environment and the rooms in particular must be and feel secure i.e. a sanctuary. “The rooms must be clean but not be clinical. The service should be efficient but not impersonal and not overwhelming.  The hotel must respect individual privacy but invite its guests to be part of the hotel community, albeit a transient one for the guests. There should exist the capacity to deliver pleasure. The resolution of these issues (often conflicting) is the key to delivering customer satisfaction.” Total investment in Sleeperz Manchester will exceed £4.5 million and work is due to start on site in September 2006 so that it can open in late 2007.