
Season 5. Episode 5. | Hospitality | Hyatt Regency & INNSiDE By Meliá
In this episode DIB boss Frank McKenna chats with Sarah Matts from Hyatt Regency in Manchester and Annabel Lax from INNSiDE By Meliá Manchester.

In this episode DIB boss Frank McKenna chats with Sarah Matts from Hyatt Regency in Manchester and Annabel Lax from INNSiDE By Meliá Manchester.

Liverpool’s most prestigious night in the business calendar is back — and bigger, bolder, and more competitive than ever. On Thursday 9th July, the iconic Sefton Park Palm House will once again host the Downtown in Business City of Liverpool Business Awards 2026, celebrating companies who have driven growth, sparked impact, and delivered serious success over the past year.

The Government has announced £2 million in new support to help SMEs cut costs through sustainable tech investment. Downtown in Business backs the move, highlighting its importance for boosting efficiency and business growth.

Downtown in Business has announced that Starship is the latest high-growth, innovation-driven company to join its national sponsor network — a partnership set to supercharge Starship’s profile, connections, and influence across the UK’s major growth regions.

It’s been a mixed week for Nigel Farage and Reform: a record-busting £9 million donation, plus defections from the Conservative Party. But that, combined with some controversial comments Nigel Farage was allegedly making back in his days at Dulwich College, has perhaps made it a more tetchy week for the Reform leader than he has had in the past.

In this captivating discussion with DIB boss Frank McKenna, Conor O’Donovan, CEO at the Sefton Collection, explains how he got involved in the industry, his highs and lows and what he learned from the experiences.

On Tuesday 2nd December 2025, DIB hosted the final event of 2025, an exclusive Leaders Lunch with Nuala Gallagher, Corporate Director of City Development at Liverpool City Council.

In this fascinating discussion with DIB boss Frank McKenna, Steven shares his career journey from the beach hotels of Australia to the countryside hotels of North Wales and his involvement with one of the UK’s fastest growing festivals DevaFest.

Downtown in Business has signed a deal with the Invest Liverpool City Region partnership to support the team deliver on an ambitious events programme, including activity at MIPIM, UKREiiF, and a series of exclusive events in London.

Downtown in Business has announced its most ambitious and wide-ranging events programme to date, with a blockbuster line-up of major conferences, parliamentary receptions, and high-profile awards ceremonies set to take place across the UK in 2026.

Downtown in Business isn’t easing into 2026 — we’re kicking the door off its hinges and rolling out a blockbuster calendar.

Big winners on the evening included Phil Brown from Causeway Technologies, Robbie Blackhurst from Black Capital Group and Cathryn Wright from Sedulo.