Record February for weekend hotel occupancy in Liverpool

Weekend hotel occupancy levels for February 2010 were at an impressive 86% – the highest ever recorded for a February since records began in 2005. The weekend room yield averaged £58.53 – an increase of 1.7% on 2009.

The figures compiled using the LJ Forecaster model show that in February 2010, overall hotel occupancy was at 67%, slightly above the same period in 2009 (65.5%), and identical to that in 2007.

The recorded occupancy levels are all the more encouraging, given the continuing growth in hotel room stock.

Overlaying these numbers onto known city centre stock levels shows that 20% more rooms were sold in the city in February 2010 than in February 2008, the city’s celebratory year as European Capital of Culture:

· c74,0000 – February 2010

· c63,0000 – February 2009

· c62,0000 – February 2008

· c52,0000 – February 2007

Advance bookings are also getting stronger – and are already at 58% for the time of the Liberal Democrat conference (18-22 September).

Liverpool City Region’s Visitor Economy is now worth £1.6billon a year, supporting 23,000 jobs.

Lorraine Rogers, Chief Executive of TMP – the Official Tourist Board for Liverpool City Region, commented: “Last month’s hotel occupancy figures are encouraging for the local Visitor Economy, especially given the tough economic climate.

“TMP is working closely with our Members in a variety of ways to attract visitors, including national marketing campaigns and attractive offers on our consumer website www.VisitLiverpool.com.

“A number of new hotels and accommodation providers have launched in the last 12 months, with more still to come in the next 18 months – making the industry more competitive than ever, but this also gives visitors more choice and will encourage them to make return journeys to the City Region.”