A vote is to be held asking hospitality businesses in Liverpool city centre if they wish to adopt a new tourism-based levy.

Key figures from the city’s hotel and cultural sector say the proposed £2-a-night charge on visitors to Liverpool could help to scale up events and allow the city to compete on the international stage.

Administered and managed by Liverpool’s Accommodation BID (ABID), it could see £6m invested into the city’s visitor economy, public realm and events calendar. The ballot will open for hotel and serviced apartment accommodation on 27 March, with results announced on 24 April. If successful, the term would begin on 1 June and last until 2027.

Laura Pye, chief executive of National Museums Liverpool, believes the levy could see more investment in the city’s cultural sector: “It would allow us to do some of the bigger stuff we want to do in the city. Liverpool as a city is culturally really vibrant and has done fantastic things in terms of the visitor economy but you need to keep ahead of the game. You have to keep investing to keep Liverpool on the front foot as a great destination”.

Annie Brown is the general manager at the Municipal Spa Hotel in Liverpool. She has also worked in Manchester on the visitor levy as chair of Manchester Accommodation BID: “All UK cities need additional support as funding has changed. It is in the interest of the private sector in the city to both support and develop how we do things in the city centre.

“When we look at other cities there has been concern about a visitor levy detracting from investment but in reality that hasn’t happened. It’s a small gesture for tourists to pay and it really helps the city to promote itself. In Manchester we learnt how successful it is to work collaboratively and to work with one aim”.

Helen Roberts, dual general manager at Holiday Inn Express for Liverpool and Manchester, thinks the levy would be a positive move: “There’s a lot that the BID does already in terms of improving the public realm, security and major events, but Liverpool needs this to help it to thrive.

“Liverpool isn’t the biggest city but it does need to compete on an international stage. We have the same model in Manchester and there has been little or no reaction from guests. The majority are used to it from their visits to European cities so there has been no negativity”.

Bill Addy, CEO of Liverpool BID Company, adds: “Major exhibitions and events, like The Terracotta Warriors, can attract a huge audience, generating income both for the visitor economy, the tourism industry and hospitality. What we would love, as both a city and a private sector, is to be able to support so that we can hold events like this much more regularly.

“The investment we are proposing could really turbo-charge the city’s economy”.

Liverpool City Council will hold the ballot in accordance with the legal requirements, and has appointed Civica Electoral Services (CES) to deliver it on its behalf.

The ballot will be taken entirely by post, with votes to be returned to CES by 5pm. on Thursday, 24 April 2025.

The published notice of the ballot can be accessed at https://liverpool.gov.uk/bidlevyballot

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