Remember, please Keep it on Campus!
21 Jan 2020
A request to colleagues to use our own services and facilities and support our University’s financial sustainability
Keep it on Campus is a request to colleagues to use our own services and facilities wherever possible, thereby supporting our University’s financial sustainability.
All of us with budgetary accountabilities have a responsibility to ensure that our University’s funds are spent wisely. This is increasingly important at a time when pressure on our budgets is growing. Therefore we are asking you to ensure that, whenever possible, hotel bookings, events and meetings are kept on campus.
For example, we spent over £700,000 on venues across the city last year. Many of these bookings could have been kept on campus and the money kept within the University.
Further details on how you can help are outlined below.
If you have suggestions for how we can better achieve this, please contact:
Hotel Rooms in Manchester city centre
As you will be aware, we entered in to a partnership to develop a new hotel (now the Hyatt and Hyatt House) and Executive Education Centre, alongside the refurbishment of the Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS).
In return for not contributing any capital to the hotel development, the University entered in to a Bedroom Guarantee Agreement (BGA). The agreement provides the University with a guaranteed minimum number of hotel nights, available at a competitive room rate that remains consistent throughout the year, even at busy times or during big events.
It is University policy for all 4*/5* hotel bookings in the city to be made through the AMBS administration team at:
Colleagues are asked to comply with this policy so that we meet our obligation under the BGA.
In 2019 the University spent in excess of £372,000 on 3,300 hotel bedrooms in Manchester city centre; this could have gone towards the BGA. The Hyatt and Hyatt House 4* facilities are of exceptional standard and ideally located on campus.
Please note, you cannot use Key Travel for Hyatt/Hyatt House bookings as this route does not contribute to the University’s obligation under the agreement.
Events and Meetings
When planning meetings and events all staff are strongly urged to use the many spaces available across campus, which cater for a variety of events from small meetings to large conferences or dinners.
For meetings, please check with Central Timetabling to see if there is a meeting room free that is suitable. You can contact the team at:
Spaces are also bookable through the University Conferences and Venues team, who are on hand to support with the organisation of events in University venues, and who can advise on how each of the spaces or rooms can be used.
Dedicated meeting and event space is available year round at Manchester Meeting Place, Barnes Wallis Building, Core Technology Facility, Whitworth Building and Christie’s Bistro. A number of other University buildings are available for use during evenings, weekends and holidays.
To find out more about each of our venues, visit:
If you would like to speak to the University Conferences and Venues team, please contact:
- conference@manchester.ac.uk
- 0161 306 4100
Please note that meeting rooms at the Hyatt should not be booked unless there are no suitable campus facilities available.
If the event cannot be delivered on campus, the booker will be directed to the Key Travel events team who will find a suitable venue in Manchester.
University credit cards must not be used to book hotel rooms, meeting space or events in Manchester city centre.
If you Keep it on Campus, you will support our University to use its resources well and, in turn, prioritise our core goals through efficient use of our funds.