Dakota Manchester Airport, a £54 million luxury hotel, has opened its doors on Enterprise Way, setting a new standard for airport accommodation. The hotel, which opened six weeks ahead of schedule, features 154 rooms, including king rooms and suites, a stylish bar, a signature grill, and a cigar terrace. It aims to be the best airport hotel in the UK and possibly the world, according to Group Operations Director Matt Townley.
Luxury Design and Amenities
The hotel occupies a striking slate grey building with a gold-adorned canopy entrance and is flanked by Cypress trees. Every detail has been carefully considered, from the generous room sizes—no double rooms, only king rooms and four suites—to corridors double the normal width to accommodate luggage. The colour palette features taupes, browns, and greys with purple accents. Guests can choose between Classic King, Garden King (with a private terrace), or suites with features like roll-top baths and airport views.
The hotel boasts an American-style bar with counter-top dining, Dakota’s signature grill serving Aubrey Allen-sourced steaks, and a cigar terrace. Certain packages include a glass of Tattinger champagne upon arrival. “We are the destination before the destination,” Matt Townley said. “The vision is to be the best airport hotel in the UK, and maybe the world.”
Targeting Different Markets
While the hotel targets luxury travellers, it also caters to corporate guests with a private dining room for lunchtime meetings and families with interconnecting rooms—a new concept for the brand. Family rooms have already proven popular; hotel manager Cameron Chritchley reported that a family of six stayed on the opening night. Classic King rooms start from £130, Garden Kings from £160, family rooms from £150, and suites from £300.
Valet Service and Car Care
The hotel offers a Park, Stay & Fly package with valet service and a chauffeur-driven transfer to and from the terminal. State-of-the-art halo technology takes 360 photographs of guests' vehicles to ensure no damage occurs. “We’re not another airport hotel, we’re about luxury,” Townley explained. “We don’t use the word shuttle, it’s your driver.” The package starts from £249 for four nights.
Future Development and Unique Position
The hotel is part of a larger planned development called MIX Manchester, a 60-acre site that could create 8,000 jobs, subject to planning permission. The joint venture includes Manchester Airports Group, Manchester council, Greater Manchester Pension Fund, and Beijing Construction Engineering Group. If approved, the site could be operational by the last quarter of 2027. Dakota is the brand's first and likely only airport hotel, as Townley noted that the focus is on Manchester's growth rather than aviation itself.
The hotel already has 2,000 rooms on the books, with strong demand expected to increase as flights to the Middle East resume. “August and September are looking really strong,” Townley said. “We’ve opened with 2000 rooms on the books and that goes up daily.”
Design Inspiration
The hotel embraces aviation heritage with drawings of the Douglas C-47 Dakota aircraft on walls and vintage travel poster-inspired artwork in the lobby. Garden King rooms offer views of planes taking off and landing. The bar is a standout feature, described by Townley as “a throwback to the golden age of flying, from the 20s to the 50s. Frank Sinatra could be sipping on a cocktail at that bar.”
Dakota Manchester Airport is located at 7 Enterprise Way, Manchester, M90 4AD.
