Tourists could face £2 a night fee for city stays

Hotels and serviced apartments are being asked to vote on the levy change

Visitors to Liverpool could be forced to pay £2 a night to stay in the city as part of a proposed new charge.

Hotels and serviced accommodation providers, who are members of Liverpool's Accommodation Business Improvement District (BID), are being asked to implement a new City Visitor Charge to help support the city's growth and development.

The charge, which could be introduced from June 2025, would help generate £6m into the city's visitor economy, Liverpool BID said.

Bill Addy, CEO of Liverpool BID, said he did not believe visitors would be put off by the additional fee.

'Change is necessary'

"We know that overnight guests spend more money in the city than day trippers so encouraging more overnight stays, through conferences or major events spanning several days, generates a greater income for the city, be that through hospitality, retail, cultural venues," he said.

The method we are proposing reflects similar models across European cities which work successfully and, if replicated in Liverpool, will translate overnight stays into major investment in attracting world leading and world beating events to the city."

The fee, which would be administered by the Accommodation BID - a business improvement district governed by hotels and serviced apartment providers in the city - is also proposing to fund public services like street cleaning.

The majority of funds generated would be spent on a combination of a subvention fund (65%) and destination marketing (21%), Liverpool BID said.

Marcus Magee, chair of Liverpool's Accommodation BID, said: "This is an alteration ballot, which will ask the hotel industry to change the way we bring in funds.

"The change in the model is necessary to help the city bring in more events, and Liverpool to compete with neighbouring cities.

"We are in a competitive visitor economy and it is vital that Liverpool holds its own."