The Medlock, a Radisson Blu hotel set to open in partnership between Manchester City Football Club and Radisson Hotel Group, has welcomed its senior team following the appointment ofGeneral Manager, Richard Pearson.

Samantha Byrne, Emma Wilson and Rebecca Mannix join the new hotel as Director of Sales and Marketing, Revenue Manager and People & Culture Manager respectively. The three are now working alongside Richard to build the wider hotel team ahead of opening next year.

The key appointments represent talent progression within Valor Hospitality, which will operate The Medlock, a Radisson Blu hotel. Revenue Manager, Emma, brings more than a decade of experience to the new hotel, moving from Valor-managed DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Piccadilly, where she has overseen revenue for three years.

People & Culture Manager, Rebecca, joins the hotel having held the role of maternity cover for Area People & Culture Manager at Valor Hospitality, and will now head up HR and people development at The Medlock, a Radisson Blu hotel, on a permanent basis.

Samantha joins from Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly where she held the role of Director of Sales and Marketing and was instrumental in re-launching the former MacDonald hotel as a full-service Marriott in 2024.

With over 15 years of experience in hospitality, Samantha previously worked within the Valor Hospitality team as Director of Sales and Marketing at AC by Marriott Salford Quays, a role she held until 2023.

The triple appointment closely follows the announcement that Richard Pearson will head up The Medlock, a Radisson Blu hotel, as General Manager in a move that will build on Richard’s leadership of hotels within Valor’s portfolio. Past leadership roles include Senior General Manager for five hotels on the outskirts of London.  

Each having built well established careers in hospitality, the three new team members will bring extensive experience to the new hotel, all having played key roles in pre-opening and major rebranding exercises.

The Medlock, a Radisson Blu hotel, will launch in 2026 offering 401 rooms and is currently under development within Manchester City's new entertainment destination. The hotel will offer guests unrivalled access to the Etihad Stadium, Co-op Live (the UK’s largest indoor arena), and a host of dining, retail, and cultural attractions.

Brian McCarthy, ValorHospitality’s UK President, commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to have Emma andRebecca continue their career with Valor at The Medlock, a Radisson Blu hotel, and to welcome Samantha back to the fold. Their collective experience in pre-opening and pre-launch operations will be invaluable as we prepare to open the doors of this exciting new hotel. At Valor, we’re passionate about building and nurturing expert teams that share our vision for exceptional hospitality, and these appointments reflect that commitment. Together we’re creating something truly special, a hotel that will set new standards for guest experience and operational excellence.”

Richard Pearson, GeneralManager at The Medlock, added: “I’m very excited to work alongside Samantha, Rebecca and Emma as we prepare to bring this unique new hotel to life. Together they bring a wealth of strategic insight in pre-opening and pre-launch projects, which will be instrumental as we build a strong, passionate team for The Medlock, a Radisson Blu hotel, from the start. I’m confident their expertise and energy will deliver truly outstanding standards for our guests and for Manchester.”

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