STAYINGCOOL
Manchester-based Staying Cool - the city’s original hip independent serviced apartment operator - was declared the cream of the Heart of England’s tourism industry crop when it won both the serviced apartment and the overall self-catering category at the official regional awards at the end of 2009 for its Apart Hotel at Rotunda in Birmingham. So, WorkLife’s Anna-Louise headed down the M6 to check out why Staying Cool were the first ever city centre serviced apartment company to make the national self-catering award short list.
INGCOOL
Staying Cool launched in Manchester in 2005 and began the roll-out of its award-winning business to other UK cities last year in partnership with another Manchester favourite, Urban Splash.
Staying Cool received Manchester’s first five star rating from Visit Britain for a serviced apartment back in 2005 when serviced apartments were a new concept in Manchester. They were quickly spotted by boutique brands Mr & Mrs Smith and i-Escape and are still the only UK serviced apartment operators accredited by both.
After a stay at these hip apartments it’s easy to see why. The Rotunda, once an office block, and a 25-storey circular tower has been transformed into modern apartments - available to rent by the night.
After parking in the Bullring car park (costing £16 for 24 hours) I strode past the many fashion shops and Selfridges with my trolley case feeling inspired by the ‘buzz’ of the city’s shoppers before I found the automatic door which opened to uncover an impressive hallway with a fabulous light feature comprising of long spiky multi-coloured poles hanging from a high ceiling.
Once I’d made it through the round, lime-green lobby, I made it into apartment 1913 which was just as the Staying Cool website had explained “shaped like a Trivial Pursuit-style wedge”. The décor was indeed very cool with neutral tones of grey, instantly brightened up with the use of unique wall art and strong coloured accessories.
The dream apartment was full of modern gadgets such as a Gaggia Espresso machine with free coffee, an Apple computer, an iPod station, free wi-fi, and a brightly coloured chaise longue. However, the best thing about Staying Cool at the Rotunda has to be the views!
I looked out at the cityscape of Birmingham, at first feeling vertigo, and then inspired by the dazzling lights and architecture.
I threw my case onto the large and extremely comfortable bed, before making an important phone call to the founder and Managing Director of Staying Cool, Tracey Stephenson to find out more…
Where did Staying Cool begin?
“We came up with the idea of a serviced apartment in the UK over a drink! (‘We’ being two friends, Paul Taylor and Tracey Stephenson).
“We both worked away from home a fair bit and knew serviced apartments existed in the UK particularly in London and Edinburgh but we saw them as what we call ‘corporate bland’, full of beige. So we came up with the concept of Staying Cool: individual apartments for the more independently-minded among us.
“We began in 2005 in Manchester at The Edge with just 2 apartments. At that time Paul was then living at Box Works - he’d bought an Urban Splash shell and he was soon used by their PR team as a great example of how to transform your shell into a great living space.
“I’d already met Tom (Tom Bloxham MBE is founder and Chairman of the pioneering urban renewal property development company Urban Splash) through my role in the Arts Council so Paul and I went to see Tom and explained we had an idea and wanted to see what he thought. He liked the ideas we had and the work we’d already done and we decided to go for it.”
Have you always desired to run your own business?
“Well, up until that point I’d always worked in the public sector, but I had always worked in the commercial side and looked at ways to make money.”
IN BIRMINGHAM
16 - WORK
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