Manchester tourists now required to pay ‘tourism tax’

Hotels in Manchester will now be charging visitors ‘tourism tax’ in a bid to help the accommodation sector recover from COVID-19 and Brexit.

Due to be launched in April 2023, hotels and short stay serviced apartments in the new Manchester Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) will charge guests an extra £1 per night for their stay.

Led by Manchester Hoteliers’ Association in collaboration with Marketing Manchester, CityCo and both Manchester and Salford City Councils, the Manchester ABID aims to raise extra funding which will be used to grow the visitor economy across the city over the next five years.

Currently 74 hotels and short stay serviced apartments will be charging the fee, which Manchester Evening News have estimated will raise around £4m for the economy.

However, due to only having a rough geographical footprint, which is comprised of the city’s inner ring road, the ABID will be covering hotels in Salford as well as Manchester.

Adam Ellis, Chair of Manchester Hoteliers’ Association, said: ‘The Manchester Hoteliers’ Association has been in discussion for several years to develop options to create new, additional funding that will support continued high performance and future growth of the visitor economy for accommodation providers across the city.

‘The result of these discussions is the Manchester Accommodation Business Improvement District proposal, and I am delighted that hoteliers’ have voted in favour of creating an innovative, business-led solution to some of the problems we have been facing as a sector.’

Coming at a difficult time for the city, the Manchester ABID is hoping to support the accommodation sector through the impacts of Brexit and the pandemic. Additionally, Manchester is introducing new attractions into the city in hopes to raise more funds. This includes Factory International, a global destination for arts, music, and culture, which is set to open in June 2023.

Cllr Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, said: ‘These are exciting times for Manchester city centre with an unprecedented number of new hotel rooms being added and major new visitor attractions such as Factory International and Co-op live due to open in the months ahead.

‘Seizing that opportunity means ensuring as many rooms as possible are full all year round. We believe that targeted investment through the Manchester ABID will help support the accommodation sector – which plats such a vital role in supporting jobs in our city and adding to its overall vibrancy – thrive.’

Photo by Zach Rowlandson