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The Manchester Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) initiative is being introduced in Manchester City Centre and Salford this year. This means a supplementary ‘City Visitor Charge’ will be required for all visitors who want to stay in Manchester City Centre and Salford. This mandatory charge is £1.20 (VAT included) per room/apartment per day and will begin on 1 April 2023.
ABID has stated that the reason for this tax charge for tourists in Manchester is to “attract and retain more visitors in Manchester” by delivering “better visitor experiences that will ultimately drive more visitors".
For new guests (and those currently staying at our aparthotel), we understand that you might have a few questions regarding this new update. We’ve created an easy-to-read guide on everything ABID will apply for CitySuites.
Why is Manchester ABID requiring additional charges from Manchester visitors?
According to their guidance note, the Manchester ABID are introducing the ‘City Visitor Charge’ as a “direct response to the unprecedented events of COVID-19, and the vote for Brexit” which has brought challenges to the accommodation sector.
Their goal is to help this recovery by boosting the tourist economy in Manchester. This will be done by acquiring more events, promoting marketing campaigns and improving the city overall, as stated by ABID.
How much is this charge going to be for guests?
Guests booking hotels or serviced apartments in the ABID zone will be required to pay an additional £1.20 per night during their stay. This will be implemented for all bookings beginning 1 April 2023.
How many serviced apartments/hotels will be affected?
The charge will apply to 74 accommodations found in the ABID zone. Every serviced apartment and hotel within this zone will be automatically enrolled in the scheme regardless of their vote.
You can check this Google sheet that contains all hotels and serviced apartments affected by ABID.
What is the Manchester ABID zone?
The Manchester ABID zone is a marked area within Manchester that establishes which hotels or serviced apartments will be affected following this new charge. This zone can be found using this link.
If I book BEFORE April 1st, but my stay is after April 1st, do I still need to pay the extra charge?
Yes. This charge will be commencing on the 1st of April, therefore all stays that begin from this date (regardless of when you book your stay) will be charged.
For example; if your stay begins on March 30th until April 5th, you will be charged £4.80 following the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th of April.
If you require more information, please feel free to contact CitySuites for any questions you might have.
Where will the money be going?
According to Manchester City Council, as well as resources provided by ABID, the money will be used to “contribute to the enhancement of overall guest experience and help to expand the city’s visitor economy”.
They have also highlighted various points on what they plan to do:
- To amplify marketing campaigns that drive overnight stays.
- Secure large-scale events, conferences and festivals
- Improve guest welcome and street cleanliness around hotels.
What does this mean for guests?
From 1 April 2023, guests will be required to pay an additional £1.20, VAT included, per room/unit per night when staying at accommodation within the ABID zone. The charge will be added to the accommodation bill for all guests in-house at CitySuites from this date.
Where can I find out more?
You can read more about this change at Manchester City Council. Please note that you will have to download the official, external document provided by ABID on this page.
Alternatively, you can also visit ABID for more information.
A Message from CitySuites
At CitySuites, we care about our partners, guests and residents. Therefore, we wanted to be as clear as possible about this upcoming update driven by ABID. The Manchester ABID went to a vote in the autumn of 2022, and the committee - in which CitySuites is not involved - voted 4:1 in favour of the new City Visitor charge. We want to notify our community that we are working hard behind the scenes to ensure minimal disruption for our guests and in-house residents when the charge is implemented in April.
The funds collected by the city council will be used for the purpose of improving Manchester’s tourism economy. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
