IHG Hotels & Resorts and More Hospitality Industry Companies Attending at CHS Manchester 2026 to Unite 500+ Event Buyers With 300+ Hotels, Venues and Suppliers

Written By: Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar is a Senior Journalist at Travel and Tour World with more than 10 years of experience in travel and tourism journalism. A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, he combines strong research, industry knowledge and storytelling expertise to produce engaging, insightful and impactful travel news and fascinating feature stories.

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September 11, 2026 18:19 GMT+5:30

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IHG Hotels & Resorts and more hospitality industry companies are attending CHS Manchester 2026, where 500+ event buyers will meet 300+ hotels, venues and suppliers at Manchester’s AO Arena.

IHG Hotels & Resorts and more hospitality industry companies are attending CHS Manchester 2026, creating a major meeting point for the UK events sector. On 30 September, CHS Manchester 2026 will unite 500+ event buyers with 300+ hotels, venues and suppliers at Manchester’s AO Arena.

Moreover, the gathering will connect professional planners with established hospitality brands, destinations and specialist event businesses. As a result, the event could generate fresh commercial opportunities across Manchester’s visitor economy. Meanwhile, buyers can discover new venues, accommodation options and event services in one place. With strong industry participation, CHS Manchester 2026 is set to attract serious attention.

CHS Manchester 2026 is gearing up to bring Manchester into sharper focus as a major business-events destination. On 30 September, the AO Arena will welcome 300+ exhibitors and more than 500 buyers and event professionals. The showcase will connect hotels, venues, destinations and specialist suppliers with decision-makers looking for fresh ideas and new partnerships. Moreover, exhibitors from across the UK and Europe are expected to strengthen the event’s international appeal. CHS Manchester 2026 therefore arrives at a significant time for the city’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector. With strong industry participation, the event could create valuable opportunities for Manchester’s wider travel economy.

Manchester prepares for a major business-events gathering

Manchester is preparing for a significant date in its business-events calendar as CHS Manchester 2026 heads to the AO Arena on 30 September 2026.

The event is expected to bring together more than 300 exhibitors and suppliers, alongside 500+ buyers and event professionals. The gathering will focus on the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, or MICE, market, while also creating opportunities across hospitality, destinations, venues and event services.

For Manchester, the timing is important. The city has an established reputation for hosting conferences, exhibitions, corporate meetings and large-scale events. CHS adds another industry platform where destinations and suppliers can meet professionals responsible for organising and purchasing events.

More than 300 exhibitors expected

The latest information from CHS indicates that 300+ venues, hotels and event suppliers will participate. The organiser describes the exhibitor base as coming from across the UK and Europe, giving the Manchester event a broader reach than a purely regional trade gathering.

The exhibitor mix includes major hotel groups, destination organisations, venues and specialist event businesses.

Names publicly associated with the event include IHG Hotels & Resorts, Hilton, Marriott Hotels UK, Meliá Hotels International, Treehouse Hotels, Dakota Hotels, Allianz Stadium, Magna, ODEON, The Jockey Club Venues, Renaissance at Kelham Hall and Destination Milton Keynes.

Other participating organisations include West Midlands Growth Company, VisitScotland, Manchester Convention Bureau, Venues of Excellence, Merlin Venues and AC Hotel by Marriott Manchester City Centre.

The breadth of exhibitors matters because professional buyers increasingly want to compare destinations, accommodation, meeting spaces and event suppliers in one setting.

• IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Hilton
• Marriott Hotels UK
• Meliá Hotels International
• Treehouse Hotels
• Dakota Hotels
• Valor Hospitality Partners
• Allianz Stadium
• Magna
• ODEON
• The Jockey Club Venues
• Renaissance at Kelham Hall
• Destination Milton Keynes
• West Midlands Growth Company
• Conference Works
• Sterling Event Group
• Bright Vision
• Venues of Excellence
• Axxiom Hospitality
• Kingfisher Hospitality
• RBH Hospitality Management
• Manchester Metropolitan University
• Legends
• Mad Swans
• INNSiDE by Meliá Manchester
• AES Group
• 4Wall Entertainment
• AC Hotel by Marriott Manchester City Centre
• Academic Venue Solutions
• Alexander Hotels
• Aloft by Marriott Manchester City Centre
• Alton Towers Resort
• Amaze Hotels
• Ambiance Incentives
• Merlin Venues
• Manchester Convention Bureau
• Vue Conferences & Events

500+ professional buyers form the other half of the show

CHS Manchester is not designed as a conventional consumer travel exhibition. Its core audience consists of professional buyers and event decision-makers.

More than 500 event professionals and buyers are expected, including corporate event managers, event agents, venue finders, personal and executive assistants, association professionals and meeting planners.

This audience gives exhibitors a direct route to people with purchasing influence.

The organiser also highlights the quality of its buyer audience. CHS states that many attendees hold senior positions and have responsibility for significant event budgets. A substantial proportion also researches venues and suppliers during the event.

That business-to-business structure could make CHS particularly valuable for hotels and destinations seeking new corporate and association business.

UK and European participation expands the opportunity

CHS has confirmed participation from suppliers across the UK and Europe, although a definitive country-by-country exhibitor breakdown has not been publicly released.

That distinction is important. Rather than assigning individual European countries to the exhibitor list without confirmation, the available information supports a broader UK-and-European positioning.

International hotel brands appearing at the event nevertheless underline the cross-border character of the hospitality market.

For Manchester, international participation can also help strengthen the city’s profile among event planners who are comparing British destinations with alternatives elsewhere in Europe.

AO Arena gives the event a high-profile setting

The choice of the AO Arena adds another dimension to CHS Manchester.

The venue is one of Manchester’s best-known large-scale event spaces and sits at the heart of the city’s visitor economy. Hosting a professional hospitality and events gathering there provides exhibitors and buyers with an opportunity to experience Manchester’s major-event infrastructure directly.

The main exhibition is scheduled for 30 September, running from 09:00 to 16:00, followed by an after-show party from 16:00 to 18:00.

CHS also has a fringe programme beginning on 29 September, giving eligible hosted buyers additional opportunities to explore venues and connect with suppliers.

Why CHS Manchester matters to travel

Business events generate demand well beyond exhibition floors. Buyers travelling to Manchester require hotels, restaurants, transport and other visitor services.

Exhibitors likewise depend on a strong destination ecosystem when pitching Manchester and the wider UK to corporate and association clients.

Consequently, CHS Manchester can support the city’s wider tourism economy by encouraging professional travel and creating new commercial relationships.

The event also arrives as destinations increasingly compete on more than hotel capacity. Accessibility, venue quality, sustainability, experiences, technology and overall value are becoming increasingly important when organisations select destinations for meetings and conferences.

CHS provides a marketplace where those considerations can be presented directly to decision-makers.

A new platform for Manchester’s events economy

The 2026 Manchester edition represents an expansion of the CHS event portfolio, bringing its established buyer-and-supplier format to one of Britain’s most prominent business and entertainment cities.

With 300+ exhibitors and 500+ expected buyers, the scale is substantial for a first Manchester edition.

Ultimately, the event’s value will be measured not only by attendance but also by the meetings, enquiries, partnerships and future bookings generated from those connections.

For Manchester’s travel and hospitality industry, that makes CHS 2026 an event worth watching.

“CHS Manchester 2026 arrives at an exciting moment for the UK travel and hospitality industry. Bringing more than 300 exhibitors and 500+ professional buyers together at the AO Arena demonstrates the growing importance of business events to Manchester and the wider visitor economy. The event creates a valuable platform for hotels, venues, destinations and suppliers to showcase what they can offer to decision-makers. Equally, buyers gain a concentrated opportunity to discover new partnerships and experiences. Manchester already has strong credentials as a business and events destination, and CHS can further amplify that position. The participation of UK and European exhibitors also gives the gathering a wider industry dimension. From a travel trade perspective, the event deserves close attention because the relationships formed here could translate into future meetings, conferences, group travel and hospitality demand across the region.”— Anup Kumar Keshan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Travel And Tour World

The cause is clear: business-events destinations are competing harder for corporate meetings, conferences and group travel. The answer is CHS Manchester 2026, which creates a focused marketplace where buyers can meet hotels, venues, destinations and event suppliers. The reason Manchester matters is its established connectivity, hospitality infrastructure and ability to host major events. Meanwhile, more than 300 exhibitors and 500+ buyers can generate meaningful commercial conversations across the visitor economy. Furthermore, UK and European participation broadens the event’s reach. As a result, CHS Manchester could help suppliers win new business while giving professional planners more choice. Therefore, the 30 September gathering at AO Arena carries importance beyond one exhibition day.

The cause is the growing demand for stronger connections between event buyers and hospitality industry companies. The answer is CHS Manchester 2026, which brings IHG Hotels & Resorts and more hospitality industry companies together with 500+ event buyers. The reason is straightforward: professional planners need direct access to hotels, venues, destinations and specialist suppliers when organising meetings, conferences and corporate events. Meanwhile, 300+ hotels, venues and suppliers create a broad marketplace for new ideas and commercial partnerships. Furthermore, Manchester offers a strong setting for this industry gathering. Therefore, CHS Manchester 2026 can help exhibitors reach influential buyers while giving event professionals greater choice.

CHS Manchester 2026 is shaping up to be an important new meeting point for the UK and European business-events sector. With 300+ exhibitors and 500+ buyers expected at AO Arena on 30 September, the event will put hotels, venues, destinations and specialist suppliers directly in front of professional decision-makers. Manchester also stands to benefit, because successful business events support accommodation, restaurants, transport and wider tourism activity. Meanwhile, the participation of major hospitality names and destination organisations gives buyers a broad range of options to explore. Although CHS has confirmed UK and European participation, a complete country-by-country exhibitor breakdown is not yet publicly available. Therefore, the strongest confirmed picture is one of a substantial B2B showcase rather than a consumer travel exhibition. Ultimately, CHS Manchester 2026 could strengthen Manchester’s position in the competitive meetings and events market while creating new commercial opportunities for exhibitors and buyers alike.