Unlock Britains Visitor Economy Lunch

On Thursday 29th January 2026, Downtown in Business, in partnership with Liverpool Business Improvement District, will host an exclusive Lunch in the Houses of Parliament to launch and discuss a major new national campaign addressing the growing pressures facing the UK’s hospitality, retail, tourism and city-centre economies.

The campaign — Unlocking Britain’s Visitor Economy — will bring together business leaders, BIDs, hotels, retailers, cultural venues, and parliamentarians to press government for a more pro-growth, business-led approach to supporting the visitor economy.

At the heart of the campaign is a new Visitor Economy Growth Charter and an upcoming Visitor Economy Manifesto, setting out clear policy asks including opposition to a national tourist tax, reform of business rates and VAT, action on high street regeneration, the introduction of ‘tax free shopping’, skills and staffing reform, modernised planning and licensing, improved night-time transport, and changes to Package Travel Regulations to unlock domestic “experience-led” breaks.

THIS EVENT IS INVITE ONLY.