Is Accor’s TRIBE Brand Worth It? My Experience at TRIBE Manchester Airport in the U.K. [Review]

The author stayed as an invited guest of TRIBE Manchester Airport. All opinions are the author’s own, and neither TRIBE Manchester Airport nor its parent company had input in any part of this article.

Accor’s TRIBE brand has flown under the radar, at least with me, because there are only 18 TRIBE hotels worldwide. I’ve been writing about my travels for a living since 2019, and only came across a TRIBE hotel while looking for a hotel at Manchester Airport (MAN) in the U.K., even though the brand has been around for almost 10 years.

TRIBE, part of the Accor Group, opened its first property in Perth, Australia, in 2017. We can expect to see a lot more TRIBE hotels popping up, as there are plans for 43 more.

Design-wise, TRIBE Manchester Airport looked exactly like a hotel I’d choose to stay in for a quick overnight stay. With a clean, modern look, it’s practical but still stylish, offering comfort without paying for unnecessary extras. The hotel opened its doors in October 2024 as the second TRIBE property in the U.K.

Shall we take a look?

Booking a Stay at a TRIBE Hotel

As TRIBE is one of over 45 Accor brands, its hotels are part of the ALL – Accor Live Limitless loyalty program. This means you can redeem Reward points for a stay rather than paying cash.

The ALL website has a great price calendar tool, so I easily found the lowest nightly member rate of $103 at TRIBE Manchester Airport for my travel dates in May 2025. That’s pretty cheap considering its location within walking distance of the airport.

Before completing the booking, I was offered numerous optional extras, similar to booking a flight with a low-cost carrier. While being able to add breakfast is a pretty standard option, this was the first time I’d ever seen early check-in and late checkout as prepay options. I’d consider this if I had an early morning arrival or particularly late evening departure.

An alternative way to book a TRIBE hotel is to redeem ALL Reward points, which works uniquely. Rather than redeeming, let’s say, 15,000 points for a stay, your points are converted into money off at a rate of 1,000 points to €20 ($23).

The equivalent of a regular 15,000-point redemption with ALL would be a discount of $345. In many cases with other hotel brands, 15,000 points might not even cover a 1-night stay at a basic hotel that costs less than $150 per night.

TRIBE Manchester Airport Hotel Location

I flew in from Lisbon (LIS) with TAP Air Portugal and landed at Manchester Airport’s recently opened Terminal 2 extension, which was covered in Revolut branding.

Once I’d breezed my way through passport control and picked up my bag, I followed the signs for airport hotels.

There’s quite a bit of construction going on at the airport, so following the signs got a little confusing at times.

As I walked via the walkway connecting the terminals, I caught my first glimpse of the TRIBE hotel.

Accessing the hotel is easiest via the airport’s main bus, tram, and train station.

It took around 10 minutes to walk to the hotel from baggage reclaim at Terminal 2.

Functional and Practical, Yet Cozy Rooms

When choosing accommodations, whether a hotel or an Airbnb, I look for a balance between comfort and practicality. As a nomad who’s been living out of a suitcase for 9 months, I can safely say it’s not always easy to find that sweet spot.

In the case of TRIBE Manchester Airport, it hit the nail on the head. It was everything I wanted for a quick 1-night stay.

After a long journey that originated in Brazil, a comfy bed was first on my list. Lucky for me, I won the jackpot with a super comfortable bed at TRIBE Manchester Airport.

Looking at the matching burnt orange headboard and curtains, I’d have probably guessed this room was in the home of someone with an eye for design, not an airport hotel.

The slightly eccentric choice of wall art and types of lighting was not lost on me either. Yet more elements that made this room feel like a home.

Looking back at the photos, the room was pretty small. However, thanks to the clever use of space, I didn’t feel boxed in at all during my short stay. Even an armchair and a reading lamp fit comfortably, cozy features you don’t always get in hotel rooms.

Rather than having built-in wardrobes and cabinets, the industrial-style frame provided space to hang a couple of items of clothing. There was also more storage hidden behind the mirror.

There were probably more sockets in this room than I have ever had at a hotel. Each had a U.K. outlet and USB-A and USB-C ports.

Another massive tick for me was the espresso coffee machine with complimentary coffee pods. Take note, 5-star hotels that charge for in-room coffee.

The mirror lighting was stylish and functional.

Even something as simple as this sleek black towel rail made it clear that the same amount of thought and time had also been put into the bathroom design.

The rainfall shower was also very powerful.

I was most impressed with the drawer space in the bathroom. This would be perfect for unpacking for a longer stay. That might seem odd to be excited about, or even notice, but most small hotel rooms of this size don’t have this kind of storage. Sometimes it really is the simplest of things that have the biggest impact.

Excellent Amenities

Given the hotel’s positioning as a midscale lifestyle brand, I wasn’t expecting much of a gym at all. I was shocked to discover that the gym had almost everything I needed to complete my personal trainer’s programmed workout. It had a Smith machine, free weights heavier than the usual limit of 44 pounds (20 kilograms), and more.

The hotel offered me a buffet breakfast for £15 ($20), which looked very nice, but I begrudge paying for breakfast buffets when all I’d have is some fruit and eggs. If there had been an à la carte menu, I’d have probably eaten at the hotel instead of grabbing a bite from Pret à Manger for a third of the price.

Would I Recommend a TRIBE Hotel Stay?

I would definitely recommend you give the TRIBE brand a try if all of its properties are of the same standard I experienced at TRIBE Manchester Airport.

I was so impressed by my stay that I will now actively choose to stay at a TRIBE hotel should I find myself in a city with one. Hopefully, I’ll get to spend more than 1 night next time. Maybe it’s time for me to climb the status ladder of the ALL program.

Final Thoughts

The only problem with my stay at TRIBE Manchester Airport was that it wasn’t long enough. I loved everything about the hotel’s design, practicality, and vibe. As a millennial who lives on the road but also likes the nicer things in life while sticking to a budget, I am the exact target audience for the TRIBE brand, which ticked all the boxes.