Liverpool city region’s visitor economy set for a £4m cash injection as new Accommodation BID meets for the first time. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool’s third Business Improvement District BID is now up and running with £4m set to be invested into the local visitor economy.
Liverpool’s Accommodation BID, the first in the UK, was established in late 2022 after the city’s hospitality sector voted overwhelmingly in support. It joins the Retail & Leisure BID and the Culture and Commerce BID all run by Liverpool BID Company.
BIDs are funded by a levy paid by businesses with the designated area. First, the majority of businesses have to vote in favour of its establishment. Liverpool’s first BID was established in 2005.
Most of Liverpool city centre is covered by the existing two BIDs, which exclude LiverpoolONE. This spring businesses in the Retail & Leisure BID area will be asked to renew for a fifth term. A ‘yes’ vote will trigger a £5m investment.
Now the board of the new Accommodation BID has met for the first time. It is being financed by the hotels and serviced accommodation sector in Liverpool.
One of the board’s key strategies is to attract major events to the city of Liverpool such as Eurovision, The Open Golf Championship and the Labour Conference all of which will attract tens of thousands of people to experience the city region.
Chair of the board and general manager of the Hilton Hotel, Marcus Magee, said: “The ABID is a significant step for Liverpool city region’s hospitality sector.
“It has collectively voted to join together in supporting the city region’s future commercial strategy by providing not only best in class business expertise but also committing considerable investment of funds in key initiatives to drive more visitors to the city region.
The Board is made up of representatives from many of the city’s hotels and serviced accommodation providers. It will deliver the 2023 – 2027 business plan for the Accommodation BID in Liverpool.
Click here to see the full list of board members, and read the business plan.
Steven Hesketh from Savvy Hotels is the board’s vice-chair. He added: “I am so proud to see that Liverpool is the very first UK city to get an Accommodation BID over the line.
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“Our hoteliers and accommodation providers truly see themselves at the forefront of supporting the city region’s economic growth. The Accommodation BID will be a critical part in raising the profile of the great city of Liverpool as the first choice for all major event organisers, regionally, nationally and internationally.”
And Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool BID Company, also said: “What began as a conversation with the hotel and serviced accommodation industry to see how they could tackle the economic challenges facing the sector post pandemic has turned into an organisation that allows business to define and determine its future.
“The accommodation sector is vital to our visitor economy and we are excited and inspired to see what happens next”.