UK: iStay Liverpool’s founder and managing director, Ann Chambers, has spoken of the positive outlook for the extended stay market in the city.
iStay, which has a portfolio of what are described as ‘Party Apartments’ in the city, is headed by Ann Chambers who has been named Newcomer of the Year 2022 at the The Downtown in Business Women in Business Awards 2022.
The awards acknowledge the finest female-led businesses, the established and up-and-coming entrepreneurs, and the women who make the most valuable contributions to the growth of the Liverpool City Region economy.
Chambers said: “I think the market here is pretty buoyant, with excellent recovery statistics – in terms of weekends, iStay is up by 30 per cent compared to this time last year. Our mid-week occupancy figures need more traction, though, but our prediction is that once high summer beckons, these will increase so there is parity across our week-to-weekend figures.”
Before the pandemic, the value of tourism to Liverpool had reached around £5 billion, but consecutive lockdowns and restrictions hit the hospitality industry hard. iStay concentrated on pushing through its expansion plans so it would be ready for when restrictions lifted.
Chambers said: “For us as a business, because we really consolidated and launched as lockdown ended, for iStay Liverpool we only really see individual growth for us as a going concern, and that has meant considerable expansion since the economy started to move again.”
Since travel restrictions were lifted there is hope that international business travel and tourism will return to its pre-pandemic numbers.
Chambers added: “Our weekend occupancies have always been very busy and we are hoping that the increase in drive of visitors from within and outside of the UK will boost our midweek bookings, too.”
But Chambers also wants development to be made a little easier within Liverpool.
“It would really be a great help if the red tape involved in development within the city was reduced and operated more efficiently, with greater transparency. We need to do everything we can as a region to support incoming investment without so many hurdles to overcome, which are costly in terms of time and resources. I think as a city we are already doing a great job and we will continue to flourish. Of course, as larger cultural and sporting projects come nearer to completion, that will be a bonus. Infrastructure is something we desperately rely on, and it’s absolutely vital that rail and airport links run smoothly and are simply able to transport travellers to us.”
iStay Liverpool provides accommodation across a growing portfolio of properties Liverpool city centre. Established over a decade ago the company has grown through acquiring desirable properties in sought-after locations across the city and developing them into what they describe as ‘Party Apartments’, which provide a base for visiting the city.
In March this year another aparthotel opened as a ‘party pad’ in Liverpool city centre operated by U-Stay.
