Tomorrow sees tourists coming to Manchester bring charged a pound to stay in accommodation
The scheme run by the Manchester Accommodation Business Improvement District (BID) will begin operations as the first initiative of its kind in the UK, aiming to deliver better visitor experiences and drive more staying visitors to the city.
The move comes at a time when there is an unprecedented level of new supply set to join the Manchester and Salford accommodation market, with an additional 5,850 confirmed new bedrooms incoming across the city-region within the next three years.
The Manchester Accommodation BID will utilise the City Visitor Charge – a supplementary £1 Charge per room/unit per night for guests, added to the final accommodation bill.
The Charge will be collected from 73 hotels and serviced apartments that fall within the Manchester ABID zone.
The funds will be used amplify marketing campaigns that drive overnight stays; help secure large-scale events, conferences, and festivals in low-season months; improve guest welcome and street cleanliness; and provide opportunities to futureproof the city’s growing accommodation sector and wider visitor economy.
Manchester Accommodation BID Board Chair, Annie Brown, who also represents Budget Hotels in her role as General Manager for Hampton by Hilton Manchester Northern Quarter, said: “This is a historic moment – the accommodation sector in and around Manchester is growing rapidly, with almost 6,000 new bedrooms incoming over the next few years, and the goal of the Manchester Accommodation BID is simple – we need to increase overnight stays in line with that growth so that hotels and serviced apartments in the city can continue to thrive.
“The Manchester Accommodation BID will create a more sustainable and thriving sector, helping to bring visitors from around the world to experience the best of what Manchester and Salford have to offer.
“I’m grateful to all of the accommodation providers who have supported the initiative and I’m looking forward to working together as a sector to achieve our shared objective of increasing occupancy.”
Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, Joanne Roney OBE, added:
“This innovative initiative will enhance the experience of visitors to Manchester by creating new events and activities for them to enjoy. It is anticipated to generate around £3 million of funds a year which will be invested directly into these activities, supporting Manchester’s accommodation sector to protect and create jobs and benefiting the city’s economy as a whole.”
