In British and European terms, Manchester has always been a city that encourages tourists to unearth its treasures.
As a result, 2018 saw a 10% rise in visitors from overseas countries. In 2019, the local authority decided to increase their target to £1.2 billion in business tourism.
The city has been through highs and lows recently, yet it appears as if the future is set to be even brighter on the tourist front because Andy Burnham could easily watch records tumble with millions of more visitors flocking here for these very reasons.
Investment in Natural Beauty
Manchester isn’t the only entity to value natural beauty. Over the past year, millions of have visited national parks around the country. The Lake District is easily the most popular among guests, with an average of 24 million visitors per year. In 2020, the region hit £3 billion from business tourism for the first time.
However, the trend has been scaling upwards since 2016, with pretty much every national park experiencing a rise in guests year on year. For Manchester, this is excellent news due to the city’s brilliant location next to some of the biggest natural hot spots in England.
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The Lake District is less than 90 minutes away, for example, while the Yorkshire Dales is only next door. Of course, the Peak District is even closer as it’s in neighbouring Derbyshire.
Thanks to its proximity to these increasingly popular beauty spots, the city will surely experience a wave of tourism made up of people who base themselves in Manchester.
Consolidating Its Facilities
Anyone who has spent time in Manchester will know that the city has excellent facilities.
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Only recently, the Mayor of Greater Manchester announced his plans to reassert control over the city’s buses by 2024. The tram service, which is one of the few left in the north and the whole of the UK, is regularly on time and beloved by locals and guests.
Then, there are the improving nightlife and hospitality scenes, both of which pull in hundreds of millions a year and give back to the economy. Yet, what makes the future exciting is the impact of technology on services that people used to travel for specifically, such as overseas gambling facilities. The likes of Las Vegas and Macau are renowned as global stars as millions of people flock to the cities for incredible gambling experiences.
Previously, Manchester would have found it hard to compete, but the internet means the city can appeal to a wide range of people by offering the same experience virtually. By showing people how they can find the best American online casino without going to the US or China, Manchester is bound to strike a perfect balance between providing betting services without the hassle. For example, Brits from other parts of the Kingdom can cut the costs of a holiday by travelling to Manchester while still getting the full US casino vibe by logging in to their favourite provider online.
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Manchester is already a shining light of domestic and international tourism since it’s a famous destination with millions of visitors. However, its location and investment in its facilities may lead to an explosion of interest from around the UK and the globe.
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation opens in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation has opened its doors in Manchester for the first time.
Since it was first founded in Los Angeles all the way back in 2009, Reformation has gone on to become one of the largest sustainable womenswear brands on the planet, and is now known and loved for making beautiful, timeless apparel and accessories that aim to ‘inspire confidence’ across life stages and occasions.
Operating on a business model that pairs a smart approach to merchandising with a responsive supply chain, Reformation now operates more than 70 retail stores across the US, UK, Canada, and France.
At the heart of the Reformation story is a genuine commitment to ‘doing things differently’.
Since day one, sustainability has been woven into everything the brand makes – from the eco-certified fabrics and responsible factories, to its famously transparent sustainability reports.
Currently, Reformation has five UK stores to its name – but, it may come as no surprise to fans of the brand that they’re all in London.
That’s why the news of this new Manchester opening is such a big deal.
The label’s first UK store outside of the capital, Reformation has secured a prime spot on King Street in the heart of the city centre, where its neighbours include American Vintage and ME+EM.
Inside, the store is laid out simply, with single sample-size items on display, but a full range of sizes available to try on.
And you can browse the full Reformation collection on huge interactive screens in the front of the shop.
Take a look inside:
Reformation is now open in ManchesterPart of Manchester’s beautiful new Reformation storeReformation loafersInteractive screens so you can browse the full Reformation collectionZebra print mules
“For Manchester, it’s a landmark moment, and for King Street, it’s the latest signal that this is one of the UK’s most exciting retail destinations,” a spokesperson for King Street said in a statement.
Stay tuned for details on opening dates to be announced in due course.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Business
Wetherspoons introduces new phone rule at all UK pubs after customers are ‘driven nuts’
Emily Sergeant
JD Wetherspoon has announced a major new phone rule in all its sites across the UK after customers complain of being ‘driven nuts’.
The pub chain – which has nearly 800 branches across the UK – announced earlier this week that it has made the decision to ban people from playing music or videos out of their phones, and from taking calls on loudspeaker.
The ban, which has been introduced effective immediately, follows a rising number of complaints from customers about the noise – with owners saying sounds from smartphones and tablet computers had become an ‘increasing problem’ in recent years.
Wetherspoon founder and chairman, Tim Martin, says he wants Wetherspoon pubs to be ‘an oasis of tranquillity and contemplation’.
Wetherspoons has introduced a new phone rule at all its UK pubs after customers are ‘driven nuts’ / Credit: Allan Rohmer (via Unsplash)
A formal statement from the company announcing the ban reads: “Following complaints from customers, who are being driven nuts by other people’s videos and amplified phone conversations, Wetherspoon has asked customers to switch their phones to silent or to use earphones.”
Tim Martin added: “In order to avoid customers being driven chicken jalfrezi by a cacophony of sound, we are kindly asking phone users to pipe down.”
Wetherspoon’s ban follows a YouGov poll conducted last year questioning public opinion on a proposition made by the Liberal Democrats of introducing fines of up to £1,000 for ‘headphone dodgers’ who play music out loud on buses and trains.
62% of people, on average, said they would back this move if it was introduced.
The poll, which surveyed 6,815 British adults, found that almost three-quarters of those over 65 would support the fines, while those aged between 18 and 24 were split 47% to 43% in favour of it.
Early public reactions to Wetherspoon’s ban appears to be overwhelmingly positive.
The Manc -
20th January 2021 
