In recent years, Liverpool has solidified its place as a world-class destination, drawing visitors for its music, history, sport, and culture. Behind the scenes, a major player has been supporting and strengthening this success: the Liverpool Accommodation Business Improvement District (BID).
What Is the Liverpool Accommodation BID?
At its core, a BID is a business-led and business-funded initiative designed to improve a defined commercial area.
The Liverpool Accommodation BID brings together hotels, serviced apartments, and other providers under one unified vision: to enhance the visitor economy and position Liverpool as a go-to city for both leisure and business travel.
By pooling resources through a levy system (which was previously 4.5% per night), accommodation providers can collectively fund strategic initiatives that would be difficult to achieve alone.
These include large-scale marketing campaigns, support for city-wide events, and subvention funding to attract major conferences, events, and sporting events.
On 25th April, accommodation businesses across Liverpool voted on a bold new future. The proposal? To replace the previous 4.5% business rate-linked levy with a simplified, guest-facing charge of £2 per night, per room.
The vote was successful, and the new levy is now confirmed.
This change marks more than a financial shift—it unlocks up to £4.3 million annually, with funding transparently reinvested into making Liverpool an even more desirable destination. The levy is easy to communicate to guests, fair across accommodation types, and designed to future-proof investment in the city’s hospitality and tourism sector.
The Vision for 2025–2027
With the new model in place, the Liverpool Accommodation BID will deliver significant impact starting June 2025. The plans include:
- £2 million per year towards subvention funding to attract major business events and conferences
- Over £500,000 annually to bring high-profile sporting events to the city
- Over £500,000 to support Liverpool’s cultural scene, exhibitions, and public programming
- Continued investment in destination marketing and enhancing the guest experience
This is not just about economic returns, though they are substantial, with over £47 million generated in 2023 alone. It’s about raising Liverpool’s profile on the global stage. And it’s about empowering accommodation providers to play an active role in shaping the city’s future.
Liverpool joins other UK cities taking bold steps through Accommodation BIDs. Manchester launched its own in 2023 with a £1 per night City Visitor Charge focused on marketing, events, and visitor experience.
Liverpool’s Accommodation BID isn’t just a levy. It’s a statement. It says we believe in the power of tourism to transform cities, create jobs, and build futures. And most importantly, it says: we’re in this together.
The £2 levy is more than a funding mechanism, it’s a commitment. A commitment to collaboration, to growth, and to showcasing everything Liverpool has to offer.
With this new chapter underway, the city is poised for even greater impact on the national and international stage.
If you’re passionate about the future of Liverpool’s hospitality and tourism sector, or simply want to understand more about how the Accommodation BID will shape our city, we invite you to join us at The Art of Hospitality on June 12.
We’ll be hosting a dedicated BID panel discussion, featuring key voices from the industry.
It’s a chance to hear firsthand how this initiative will be implemented, what it means for local businesses, and how you can get involved.
🎟️ Tickets are free, reserve yours here and be part of the conversation. Source – https://liverpoolbidcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Alteration-Ballot-Business-Plan-Accommodation-BID-5.pdf
