Doing business
There are no hard and fast rules to differentiate business in Manchester from elsewhere in the UK, but one thing to bear in mind is the upcoming string of annual political party conferences. Each of the next four years will see either Labour or the Conservatives assemble in the city, so it’s worth checking dates to avoid being inconvenienced by the media circus.  

Cool hotel
The Malmaison Manchester claims to sit on the spot where the initial plans for English football were first laid down. True? With a hotel like this, who cares? The property bills itself as being “on Paris time”, and there’s a thick Moulin Rouge flavour throughout. Rooms are full of bold colours and quirky design, food and wine are carefully selected and the Mal Bar has a brooding feel. The hotel also offers a spa, private dining room and meeting space for up to 80. 

Hip restaurant
If the prospect of a decent steak has ever had you salivating your way through a board meeting, look no further. The Gaucho Grill on St Mary’s Street offers the full Argentine experience – the beef, the wine and the live music. An open-plan eatery with two mezzanine levels, it’s suitable for anything from group meals to lone diners. It’s a decadent kind of joint, and even vegetarians are reasonably well catered for.  

Happening bar
The newly opened Beecham Tower is now firmly among the most eye-catching elements of the Manchester skyline, and 23 floors of it are given over to the Hilton Manchester Deansgate. Its imposing spiral atrium has attracted attention, as has its signature bar, Cloud 23. Located on the 23rd floor – hence the name – guests can take in city views through full-length windows while a selection of original cocktails are served

Must-see sight
Culturally, Manchester stands tall – characters like Morrissey and LS Lowry don’t come along every day – and this heritage combines with the city’s cotton mill past to offer an excellent selection of museums and exhibitions. For a sporting experience, however, a trip to Old Trafford is rarely going to disappoint. Love them or hate them, Manchester United is a full-blown institution, and the scale of the place alone is enough to impress. Prawn sandwiches optional.    

Getting downtown
If you’re flying into Manchester Airport, you’ve got a couple of options. Trains run direct to Piccadilly Station in the city centre every 15 minutes (the trip itself takes around 20 minutes), while taxis will perform the same task for under £20. In town itself, the tram network links all major stations and attractions and the free Metroshuttle bus service runs three different routes around stations, sights and key hotels. 

Getting there
Rail access from around the country is generally quick and regular – the London Euston to Manchester service leaves half-hourly and takes around 2hrs 15mins. For drivers, the city’s ring road connects to motorways heading north, south, east and west. By plane, Manchester Airport is served by over 100 airlines and connects to 200 different destinations.

The carbon cost
A return flight from London to Manchester will cover 486km and emit 0.1 tonnes of CO2. Offset this with The CarbonNeutral Company from £0.75.

INSIDER’S TIP
“There's no shortage of hotels close to Manchester Airport. These include the Radisson SAS Manchester Airport, Hilton Manchester Airport and the Crowne Plaza Manchester Airport. The city is a great destination for meetings and events, with larger conference facilities at the old Manchester Exchange railway station – now called Manchester Central. Most of the city's hotels have meetings facilities, as does Old Trafford, home of Manchester United Football Club”
Neil Mewes, Travel Counsellor

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