Manchester comes alive for Meet Up North 2019

1024 684 Hamish Kilburn
  • 0
Manchester comes alive for Meet Up North 2019

Last night, industry leaders gathered at Manchester’s Hotel Gotham for Hotel Designs’ premium northern networking evening, Meet Up North 2019…  

More than 120 designers, hoteliers, developers, architects and key-industry suppliers gathered last night at Hotel Gotham in Manchester’s exclusive private member’s bar, Club Brass, for Meet Up North, Hotel Designs’ premium northern networking event. Using the city below as its backdrop, Hotel Designs took over the rooftop bar to prove that Manchester is a thriving hotel design hotspot.

The event, which was sponsored by Hamilton Litestat, Architextural and Atlas Concorde, returned to Manchester for the second time in a row as a result of the city’s bustling and constantly evolving hotel design scene.

“It’s no surprise or secret that Manchester is a hive of hotel development activity,” said Hamish Kilburn, editor of Hotel Designs. “This creative hub is certainly leading a clear innovative path by opening quality, dynamically designed hotels in the north.”

Delivering a presentation entitled “Hospitality is way more than hotels”, Tom Lindblom, hospitality leader and Principal at Gensler gave the audience an insightful look into how modern hotel exteriors and interiors are changing.

Ending the evening with a apt glimpse into the future, Hotel Designs announced that The Brit List, the publication’s annual awards ceremony, is back this year. “Nominations, which are free to apply, have opened,” Kilburn added. “One element that we believe sets us aside from any other awards ceremony, that we are aware of, is that The Brit List is completely free to apply. Anyone – hotelier, architect, interior designer, developer or supplier can nominate anyone they feel is deserving.”

If you attended Meet Up North, and would like to share your images with us on Instagram (@hoteldesigns), please do by simply using the hashtag #HDMEETUPNORTH19.

More official images of the night will follow…

Headline Partner: Hamilton Litestat

Event Partner: Atlas ConcordeEvent Partner: Architextural

Image credit – Tangerine Event Photography

Hamish Kilburn / 02.07.2019

Share

  • 0

You might also like

Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Work highlights: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher atSPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.
Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.