A Key Leisure & Retail destination
Tourism figures are at an all time high across Liverpool City Region, with numbers showing that £15 million people attended a cultural event or attraction during 2008, generating a massive £800 million for the local economy. Voted as the UK's third favourite city to visit (source:Conde Nast Traveller survey 2008 & 2009), the Leisure and Tourism industry is now worth a staggering £1.3 billion to the Liverpool City Region economy, sustaining 23,000 jobs.

Key Industry Features and Benefits

• The new £22million Liverpool Canal Link opened in March 2009 sees narrow boats pass across the Pier Head for the first time in over 100 years. The new one-and-a-half mile canal link is expected to generate 200,000 extra visitors annually to the city's dock system with an additional tourism spend of £1.9m per year.
• Liverpool's world-famous waterfront is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• A major addition to the city's cultural offer is the new state-of-the-art £72million Museum of Liverpool, due to open in 2011. Situated on the UNESCO World Heritage Waterfront, it will focus on Liverpool's worldwide influence in geography, history and culture
• Liverpool is home to leading hotel brands such as Malmaison, Radisson Blu, two Crowne Plazas and a Marriott Hotel, as well as smaller designer hotels including the Hope Street Hotel, 62 Castle Street, while the Hard Days Night is the world's first Beatles-themed hotel.
• More museums, theatres and galleries in Liverpool than any other UK city outside London, and during 2008, its celebratory year as European Capital of Culture, they enjoyed record numbers.
• The biggest regeneration project the city has ever seen is the £1billion Liverpool ONE retail and leisure complex. Spanning 42 acres, it features 160 shops, bars and restaurants, apartments at One Park West, 14-screen Odeon Cinema and new car parks as well as hotels from Hilton and Novotel. Liverpool ONE also features the five acre Chavasse Park, a green oasis in the heart of the city, which has re-established the link between the new city centre and the historic Grade II listed Albert Dock.
• The £19m City of Liverpool Cruise Terminal at Princes Dock is capable of handling the world's largest liners. In 2009 15 cruise liners will bring 23,000 passengers to Liverpool and in October 2009 the Queen Mary 2, Cunard's flagship cruise liner which celebrated it's fifth birthday, visited carrying 3,056 passengers.
• Since opening in Spring, Liverpool Arena and Convention Centre (ACC Liverpool) has generated an economic contribution of £400m. The 10,600 seat arena, 1,350 multipurpose conference centre, exhibition space and public piazza has enjoyed unprecedented success hosting a range of high profile events including the European MTV awards 2008, BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2008, the Davis Cup and the RIBA Stirling Prize.
• A luxury shopping mall, the Met Quarter comprises of 45 retail units, with labels including Armani Exchange, Kurt Geiger, Flannels, and Hobbs.
• A top-class sporting reputation. Home to 19 challenging and picturesque golf course, including three Royal links courses- Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham & St Annes- which have hosted the Open Championship an impressive 30 times since 1897. The Open Championship came to Royal Liverpool in 2006, Royal Birkdale in 2008 and will be returning to Royal Liverpool in 2014 - the second time in just 8 years. The Woman's British Open will be hosted in the region in 2010 and 2012. The City Region is also home to two Premiership football teams -Liverpool FC and Everton FC- and Super League rugby club -The St Helens 'Saints'- while Aintree Racecourse hosts the world's most famous Steeplechase, the John Smiths Grand National.

For further information on Hotels please refer to the Liverpool Hotel Investment Factsheet - February 2008

Existing investors include:
Malmaison, Hilton, Leo Casino, Centre Island Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Radisson Blu, Tate Liverpool, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Aintree Racecourse, Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Royal Birkdale Golf Club, British Waterways, National Museums Liverpool, Cains Brewery, Brouhaha International, Cavern City Tours, easyjet, World of Glass, Beatles Story, Hope Street Hotel, Jury's Inn.

The Mersey Partnership is Liverpool City Region'sofficial tourist board, and provides further information about attractions and events at www.visitliverpool.com

To contact The Mersey Partnership's Investment Team, please call 0151 237 3931 or email