City Hosts Clock Up Record Number Of Visitor Welcomes During Festive Period

Manchester’s City Hosts achieved record numbers of visitor welcomes in December, helping 12,794 visitors in the city centre, an incredible three times their normal monthly average.

“THE CITY HOSTS DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF WELCOMING THESE VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE TO MANCHESTER – THE CHRISTMAS CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.”

Funded by the Heart of Manchester BID, there are a total of seven Hosts, who work seven days a week, 363 days a year and are based in the main shopping districts of Market Street, Exchange Square, New Cathedral Street, St Ann’s Square and King Street. The team is on hand to guide shoppers, visitors and workers – helping with directions, public transport information and providing details on events taking place in the city centre.

Their busiest day was Sunday, December 15th, in which they clocked a staggering 854 welcomes.

The Hosts helped visitors from all over the world, including people from far-flung destinations such as Australia, New Zealand and America, European countries such as Holland, Italy and Malta and even Kazakhstan.

As well as providing people with directions, the Hosts have helped with all kinds of enquiries, from directing volunteers to Food Banks, reuniting an owner with his lost passport, showing three generations of an Oldham family the Christmas Markets for the first time and singing ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ to a group doing a Christmas Quiz.

City Host Kathryn Gradwell said; “While we’re busy throughout the year, December really was non-stop from start to finish. We met visitors from all over the world who had come to Manchester to enjoy the festive atmosphere, the Christmas markets and do a bit of shopping and it was great to be able to help point them in the right direction and enhance their experience that little bit more.”

Councillor Pat Karney, Manchester city centre spokesperson said: “Manchester is the world capital of Christmas, with people coming from across the globe to see our award-winning markets and visit our shops, restaurants and theatres. The City Hosts did an excellent job of welcoming these visitors to the city centre.”