CHS Manchester announces Discover Manchester Programme

The Manchester Accommodation BID has announced the programme for the Discover Manchester Stage at CHS Manchester (30 September 2026), showcasing how Manchester is continuing to push boundaries in event delivery, visitor experience and destination collaboration.

Delivered in partnership with Manchester Convention Bureau, part of Marketing Manchester, the Discover Manchester Stage will feature a series of spotlight sessions designed to provide planners with practical insight and inspiration for hosting events in Manchester.

Partners taking part alongside the Manchester Accommodation BID and Manchester Convention Bureau include Aviva Studios, Radisson Hotel Group, Northern Roots, CityCo, Manchester Metropolitan University and Selling Savvy.

The draft programme

The programme will open with a session exploring what’s new and what’s next for Manchester’s events landscape, discussing the latest updates on major developments such as Medlock Square, Therme Manchester, the reopening of Rochdale Town Hall and the transformation of Manchester Town Hall.

A session led by Aviva Studios, A New Conversation About Accessibility & Inclusion, will be hosted by Jay Millard, Access Manager at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, and Stephanie Williams, Head of Events at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International. The panel will provide a briefing on key trends in accessibility, what they mean for event organisers, and how organisers can adapt their events to support a more inclusive future.

Manchester Metropolitan University will host Play is Serious Business: What Events Can Learn from Playful Learning. In this interactive 20-minute session, James Charnock, Sales and Marketing Manager at Manchester Metropolitan University, will give delegates the opportunity to experience the principles of playful learning first-hand and explore how curiosity, challenge, collaboration and experimentation can transform audience engagement.

Sustainability will be a key theme, with Radisson Hotel Group showcasing Manchester’s first verified net zero hotel. The session, The Future Stay: How Verified Net Zero Hotels Are Redefining Sustainable Hospitality with Radisson Hotel Group, hosted by Claudia Platt, Senior Account Manager UK & Ireland for Radisson Hotel Group, will explore how renewable energy, low-carbon menus, minimal-waste operations and independent verification are transforming the guest experience.

Selling Savvy’s session, Growing Your Network: Building Connections, Confidence & Career Opportunities, will provide delegates with practical advice on networking with purpose, developing a memorable personal brand and building confidence. Directors Louisa Ritchie and Kat Rack will share actionable insights to help corporate event planners and agency professionals create meaningful connections, increase visibility and unlock new opportunities for growth.

Social impact will be explored through Northern Roots: Delivering Social Value Through Urban Green Space, featuring Northern Roots and the Woodland Trust. Hosted by Lizzie Fenton, Head of Income Generation at Northern Roots, the session will spotlight the transformation of the Northern Roots site in Oldham into a major community and visitor destination, delivering benefits for the environment, health, wellbeing and local livelihoods.

The final session, Destination Manchester: City-Wide Collaboration for Major Events, chaired by Gary James Williams, Head of Events at CityCo and Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District, will explore the unique partnership between Manchester City Council, Marketing Manchester, CityCo and partners across culture, transport and accommodation. Delegates will hear how collaboration and placemaking expertise help support major international events such as The BRIT Awards, turning single events into city-wide moments that deliver benefits across Manchester's visitor economy.