Liverpool-based hotel and serviced apartment group Signature Living are celebrating a New Year bookings bonanza across their accommodation portfolio.

Like for like bookings for the apartments for the same period last year reveal a significant 40% increase.

Meanwhile, bookings at 30 James Street, the former White Star Line HQ, which opened to international acclaim last summer, have surpassed the company’s early expectations. Signature Living say that they have benefited from global interest in the building’s maritime history as internal company figures show overseas bookings represent almost 33% of hotel stays.

Signature Living, which was founded by husband and wife team Katie and Lawrence Kenwright in 2008, currently have 650 beds in Liverpool.

Expansion plans will see that offer increased to over 1000 beds by the autumn when the company opens the much-anticipated Shankly Hotel and Museum at the Millennium House Building on Victoria Street. The development will be collaboration between Signature Living and the Shankly family.

Liverpool City Council is set to hand over the building on 1 February.

Signature Living’s Lawrence Kenwright said:

“We’ve had an amazing start to 2015 with people from all over the world booking stays. 30 James Street has exceeded our early expectations. There has been huge international interest in the hotel.

“We are also particularly pleased with the bookings at Signature Living’s luxury serviced-apartments, which are up significantly compared to this period in 2014. Even though Liverpool has increased its hotel offer by increasing its beds from 2500 beds to 7000 in the last four years this demonstrates just how prominent Liverpool has become as a weekend destination, it is firmly placed as one of the U.K’s top City destinations.”