Manchester Met Reimagines Conference & Events by Unifying Systems with StarRez

From Fragmentation to Frustration

Before implementing StarRez, the Conference and Events Team at MMU faced major operational challenges. As Gemma Hill, Conference and Events Manager, explained:

"We were juggling multiple spreadsheets, emails, and using our previous software provider, which didn’t integrate with the accommodation side at all. We had no single view of our residential and events business."

The team was working in silos. The Residences Team used a completely different system than the Conference and Events team, and any bookings had to be manually shared through spreadsheets, emails, and informal check-ins. This duplication opened the door to human error and inefficiency:

“Having both the Residential and Conferencing modules in StarRez has significantly improved our summer operations. The system provides real-time visibility of summer occupancy, enabling us to plan and mobilise deep cleaning, schedule maintenance, and carry out refurbishments efficiently. This eliminates the need to check multiple systems or gather information from external sources, streamlining the entire process”.

- Terry Lancaster, Residential Services Manager, Metropolitan Manchester University

This lack of coordination not only drained time but made it nearly impossible to forecast or track lost opportunities, especially during the summer conference season.

One Platform, One Vision

MMU implemented the StarRez platform and specifically invested in the Conference & Events Solution as well, allowing the institution to centralize residential and event operations under one system. This move was a strategic decision to unify teams.

"We wanted one system that brought the conference team and residences team together. StarRez has absolutely done that."

-Gemma Hill, Conference and Events Manager, Manchester Metropolitan University

The shift to a unified platform allowed both teams to collaborate in real time, from booking coordination to resource planning. The occupancy tracker in StarRez became a central tool. Gemma mentioned, "we all see the same information in real time. Residences can look ahead, see who’s coming in, and plan their cleaning contracts accordingly."

This live data sharing has empowered the Residences Team to go out to tender for summer cleaners months in advance, using forecasted bed-nights and group bookings to drive procurement decisions.

"That kind of planning just wouldn’t have been possible before. Now, they know how many cleaners they need, when they need them, and it’s all based on StarRez data."

Despite new constraints—longer student contracts that reduced summer availability—MMU maintained its summer focus and still drove significant business growth:

“Even with fewer available rooms, we stayed committed to growing summer sales. StarRez gave us the structure to do that.”

-Gemma Hill, Conference and Events Manager, Manchester Metropolitan University

The Tangible Gains of Going Unified

The impact of unifying operations through StarRez has been both immediate and lasting. By connecting teams, data, and processes in one platform, MMU has achieved new levels of operational insight, efficiency, and financial performance.

21% Growth in Summer Revenue

Since implementing StarRez, MMU has seen a 21% increase in summer residential revenue compared to pre-StarRez years (2017–2019), excluding COVID-impacted periods. This growth came despite longer student contracts reducing available summer inventory, highlighting the team's strategic use of limited capacity to maximize impact.

A Unified Booking Experience

Managing all residential and event bookings in one system has eliminated operational blind spots. StarRez allows both the Conferences & Events team and the Residences team to view bookings in real time. This alignment means fewer booking conflicts, greater efficiency in group scheduling, and a streamlined experience for both students and external delegates.

More Informed Strategic Planning

With StarRez, MMU began logging and analyzing turned-down event business, data previously unavailable. Over two years, this revealed £101,944 in potential revenue lost due to resourcing constraints. This new visibility has informed staffing discussions, bolstered the business case for expanded summer operations, and clarified the ROI of further investment.

Importantly, the data was powerful enough to support a formal business case to University leadership. Gemma Hill used StarRez reports to demonstrate how much revenue was being left on the table due to limited staffing. As a result, she submitted a proposal to hire an additional Conference and Events Coordinator, directly tying operational capacity to income potential.

This kind of evidence-driven advocacy was not possible before StarRez, and it represents a significant shift in how the team can now scale intentionally and justify resource growth. Previously, both teams managed their own systems and communicated event data manually through emails and spreadsheets. StarRez eliminated this duplication. Event bookings, room allocations, and occupancy planning are now centralized, freeing up staff from repetitive admin and reducing the chance of human error. Though unmeasured, the reduction in back-and-forth communication and redundant data entry has significantly lightened workloads.

Time Savings Through Workflow Simplification

Previously, both teams managed their own systems and communicated event data manually through emails and spreadsheets. StarRez eliminated this duplication. Event bookings, room allocations, and occupancy planning are now centralized, freeing up staff from repetitive admin and reducing the chance of human error. Though unmeasured, the reduction in back-and-forth communication and redundant data entry has significantly lightened workloads.

Increased Event Capacity and Operational Agility

MMU has long hosted around 70–80 events annually, with activity extending well beyond the summer months. The shift to StarRez didn’t change the scale of events but streamlined how they’re managed. Teams can now plan months in advance, for example, the Residences team leverages the system’s occupancy data to coordinate cleaning contracts, schedule staff, and forecast high-traffic periods. That level of efficiency and foresight was far more difficult to achieve in their previous, disconnected setup.

From driving strategic procurement decisions to simplifying day-to-day coordination, MMU’s unified platform has turned logistical complexity into operational confidence.

Leading with Data, Growing with Insight

Manchester Metropolitan University’s implementation of the StarRez Conference & Events Solution showcases the power of integration across campus functions. By combining student housing and event logistics, MMU has improved operations, captured more revenue, and positioned itself for strategic growth.

"We’re not working in silos anymore. We have a complete picture and that’s changed everything."

For institutions looking to maximize summer revenue, track missed opportunities, or unify their event and residential workflows, MMU offers a compelling case for the transformative power of StarRez. Contact our team to explore a path forward with StarRez Conference & Events.