AC Hotels by Marriott making its UK debut this month

AC Hotels by Marriott
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AC Hotels by Marriott, the European-inspired lifestyle brand by Marriott International, makes its debut in the UK this month with two new hotels in Birmingham City Centre and Manchester Salford Quays.

The new hotels embody AC Hotels’ vision to create harmonious, modern and contemporary hospitality experiences for guests and its purposeful and timeless design is set to complement two of the most celebrated shopping and cultural destinations in the UK.

“These two new UK hotels are a wonderful example of design, style and sophistication situated in revitalised thriving urban destinations – perfectly reflecting the AC Hotels brand ethos,” says Toni Stoeckl, Global VP, Lifestyle Brands, Marriott International. “They support our commitment to driving growth for our lifestyle brands in Europe and respond to a continued demand from discerning travellers seeking hotels with thoughtful, modern design that calms and enriches the guest experience.”

Each hotel blends European style and simple lines to create a sophisticated and contemporary ambience for guests. The spacious bedrooms feature furnishings and décor in neutral tones of warm greys and charcoals complemented by sleek design furniture, open closets and hardwood floors. Furniture appears to be lifted from the ground to create a sense of space, and crisp white linens are used to craft a look that is both refined and elegant. A seamless check-in experience is created through Marriott’s mobile check-in and check-out service, and guests can make full use of USB charging stations and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.

AC Hotel Manchester Salford Quays
The 142-room AC Hotel Manchester Salford Quays occupies a prime spot in the heart of the vibrant regenerated Salford Quays district. The cutting edge innovation of MediaCityUK, the rich sporting history of Old Trafford Football Stadium and the diverse cultural offering of Lowry Theatre are all just a few minutes’ walk.

AC Hotels by Marriott - Manchester

AC Hotels by Marriott – Manchester

AC Hotel Birmingham City Centre
The 90-room AC Hotel Birmingham City Centre is situated at The Mailbox, the former Royal Mail sorting office, which has been repurposed into an exclusive shopping area with stylish stores, restaurants, cafes and bars. Leisure guests will enjoy the hotel’s easy access to the city’s major attractions, including the National Indoor Arena, Barber Institute of Fine Arts with views over the city while business visitors will benefit from the hotel’s prime location by the International Convention Centre.

AC Hotels by Marriott - Birmingham

AC Hotels by Marriott – Birmingham

Meetings and events are expertly catered for at AC Hotels by Marriott. In Manchester guests can choose between three fully flexible meeting rooms that cater for up to 100 people. AC Hotels was born from the vision of renowned hotelier Antonio Catalan, who founded the brand in 1998 and grew it into one of the most well-respected hotel brands in Spain. Following its success in Europe, a joint venture was formed with Marriott International in 2011, which launched AC Hotels by Marriott globally into France, Turkey, Italy, Portugal, Denmark and the US.

Based on a belief that purposeful design can enrich lives, AC Hotels by Marriott celebrates classic modern design that is inspired by the urban locale and the brand’s Spanish roots. The brand’s design ethos carves away all that is unnecessary in order to provide guests with thoughtfully designed experiences to help them focus on what is important to them.

AC Hotels Birmingham City and AC Hotel Manchester Salford Quays are two of more than 22 AC hotels expected to open globally this year.

www.marriott.co.uk

Daniel Fountain / 25.05.2016

Editor, Hotel Designs

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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: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

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 at SPACE 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.