5 Minutes with... Laura Benefer
We chat to Laura Benefer, Groups & Events Sales Manager at Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House Manchester Hotels
What are the benefits of your location?
Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House Manchester hotels are located on a peaceful garden square, just steps away from Oxford Road and its eclectic, independent boutiques, offering effortless access to Manchesterโs City Centre, its vibrant nightlife, exhibition and arts spaces and transport hubs.
The historic Whitworth Park, which dates back to 1890, and the picturesque Grosvenor Square gardens are on the doorstep and the neighbourhood is home to some of Manchesterโs finest cultural institutions such as The Whitworth art gallery and the Manchester Museum.
Our location provides a multitude of different, yet all perfect wedding backdrops - guests can choose anything from atmospheric, historic architecture, pretty green spaces and even the modern, innovative spaces of Manchesterโs new Circle Square.
Could you tell me about the event spaces available within the hotel?
We are a bright, modern, contemporary hotel, with beautiful large open spaces which are flooded with natural daylight. Upon entering, youโll see our stylish lobby, whether looking for a contemporary or traditional wedding, this area is a brilliant blank canvas for any type of wedding, and the marble bar beneath the grand four-story atrium makes for perfect drinks receptions. Thereโs also an impressive staircase which is a wonderful setting for group photographs. The staircase leads to a dedicated event floor with 441 Sq Metres of flexible spaces which cater for all manner of requests, from unique, intimate weddings in The Turing Room, to glamorous banquets in The Rothwell Suites.
And then there is the jewel in our crown. The 18th Floor offers an exciting new place for weddings, private hire parties, meetings, and networking events โ making up 363.6 sq m of flexible space with outstanding panoramic views through floor to ceiling windows across Manchester to one side and to the Peak District on the other.
Could you describe what wedding offerings you have?
I have been planning weddings for many years and I am thrilled to be working closely with our couples to create their dream experience, one that is exactly right, perfectly tailored, just for them.
Whether itโs a lavish wedding breakfast for 170 or an intimate ceremony, just for 2, we are here to help. We provide a dedicated wedding planner to manage every detail: flowers, entertainment, customised to ensure the perfect celebration. We work around the needs and requests of our couples and offer warm and inviting spaces to deliver unforgettable weddings.
How would you describe the hotelโs wedding dining experience?
We have an incredible team of chefs, their creativity and passion can be seen and tasted in our three-course wedding breakfasts, imaginative buffets and light bites and canapes. We have dishes to suit all tastes and budgets.
We offer a range of suggested menus you can choose from but equally, if couples have specific menus or cuisine in mind, our teams will happily create bespoke menus. Of course, we have extensive and impressive wine lists, but we also love to create โ and our incredible Bar Team are wizards when it comes to creating unique story-led signature cocktails and mocktails, these are a fun and delicious ways to impress wedding guests.
What makes a stay at your venue stand out from your competitors?
We offer special bedroom packages for pre-wedding get-togethers, reduced rates for wedding guests and possibly the couplesโ favourite perk - they receive World of Hyatt points towards free honeymoon nights available at any Hyatt Hotels & Resorts worldwide โ these points can be redeemed at a time to suit.
What wedding packages are you offering for 2022?
Whether you want to host a simple drinks reception or hold your full wedding day with us we have five inspired packages which help with planning and budgeting your event. Starting at ยฃ40 and going up to ยฃ95 per person, our packages are customisable and offer a great starting point for our couples. Captivate & Joy packages are perfect for guests only wanting to an evening event whereas Cherish and Forever Packages are for couples looking to spend their whole wedding day with us including their ceremony and wedding reception. The Twilight package offers a fixed price of ยฃ2500 for 50 guests is a popular choice, guests enjoy a celebratory evening event that includes a buffet, DJ and a late bar till 1am.
As this is our love edition, please share with our readers details of one of your favourite weddings.
Iโm lucky to have experienced a great number of weddings, I always love the part when the bride walks down the aisle to their own choice of music. Iโve seen happy brides glide with smiles to all manner of sounds, from the traditional Bridal Chorus and Pie Jesu to lighter, happy and meaningful tunes, which have included Simon & Garfunkel and Donna Summer.
My favourite moment from my wedding - and what I also enjoy seeing at weddings - is the part (usually) post-ceremony, when all the nerves have evaporated, and friends and family intermingle and relax together. Time seems to stand still at this moment and the day slowly melts into a love-filled celebration of joy.
And finally, what would be your perfect date night?
As a mother of two, young football-mad boys, date nights are few and far between, so when we do get the chance my husband Dan and I head out to one of Manchesterโs restaurants to sample their tasting menus. I especially love Tattu and the changing menus at Six by Nico, then I will drag a reluctant Dan to the nearest club to finish the night on the dancefloor.
www.hyatt.com , t: +44 (0) 161 359 5550
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