Member Article

Bank Holiday to bring in £5m for Liverpool

Organisers of Liverpool’s Battle of the Atlantic commemoration are expecting around 250,000 visitors to the city, and a £5m contribution to the economy as a result of Bank Holiday tourism.

Liverpool will host a five day celebration over the May Bank Holiday weekend after events began in London and Derry, Londonderry, earlier this month.

Statistics show that all Liverpool’s 5,400 hotel beds have been booked for Saturday 25th May, and rooms are nearly fully booked for the Sunday night.

Activities will take place along the waterfront in a tribute to the longest military campaign of World War II, including a veteran’s parade, a fly past and action displays, along with 25 warships from 11 nations which will arrive in the city’s docks.

Cllr Wendy Simon, Liverpool city council cabinet member for culture and tourism, said: “It is a real honour for Liverpool to be the national focus of these 70th anniversary commemorations.

“We’re expecting around 250,000 visitors, and working in partnership with the Royal and Merchant Navies, we’re proud to have a huge programme of more than 100 events.”

Mike Dewey, chairman of Liverpool Hoteliers Association and general manager of Liverpool hotel, Hard Days Night, added: “The event has had huge national publicity and I’ve no doubt this is why we’re so busy.”

Rear Admiral Chris Hockley, flag officer Regional Forces, said: “Liverpool is absolutely the right place for the national focus on commemorating the Battle of the Atlantic on its 70th anniversary.

“It was the home of the Western Approaches operations room and the receiver of over 1000 convoys, together with ship repair and building activity in support.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .