THE start of the Premier League football season will give a much-needed shot in the arm to Liverpool’s visitor economy, a leading hotelier says.

Stephen Roberts, manager of the waterfront Crowne Plaza and chairman of the Liverpool Hoteliers Association said there had been a shortage of visitors to the city centre in recent weeks.

A study by accountancy firm PKF confirms that the city’s hoteliers have struggled this year. Figures show that, from January to June, occupancy levels were flat – rising just 0.1% from the same period in 2009. And room rate declined year-on-year for the half-year by 2.1%, from £67.50 in 2009 to £66.09 in 2010. Rooms yield also declined and was down 1.9%, to £45.67.

Mr Roberts told LDP Business: “For the next nine months, we’re expecting business to pick up strongly.

“It’s great to be welcoming fans from all over the world back to Liverpool and we hope they’ve all got smiles on their faces.

“These are obviously tough economic times, but fans are fanatic and they know they will get great service and value in the city.”

Restaurant Bar & Grill, in Brunswick Street, reported an increase in reservations in the run-up to Liverpool’s match with Arsenal yesterday, and Liverpool FC is also expecting a boost in visitor centre numbers.

LFC commercial tourism manager Tom Cassidy said: “The tours have been completely reworked over the last few months, so even those people who came last year could come again and they would have a totally different experience.”