THE hotel boom in Liverpool was planned before the recession. As the new properties come on-stream, they face a tough birth.

Hotel occupancy was 83% in 2008, 81% in 2009 and is expected to be lower in 2010.

“I’m struggling to see where the next big lift for the industry could be,” said Stephen Roberts, Crowne Plaza Hotel general manager and chairman of Liverpool Hotels Association.

“It could be resolved by opening Liverpool Cruise Liner Terminal to turnarounds, with stay-cruises returning us to 2006/7 occupancy levels.”

Turnarounds are cruises which begin and end in a port.

Liverpool is unusual in being both suitable for cruise liner calls and geographically placed for turnarounds to service an area ranging from the north Midlands to southern Scotland.

“We’re in the odd situation of visitor numbers growing while individual hotels see bookings reduce,” said Mr Roberts.

“This is due to the increasing supply of hotels and serviced apartments in Liverpool.

“But I’m pleased to say there’s a real development of collaborative marketing of Liverpool as a destination.

“This is a transformational force in the economic development of the city region.

“The development of major events all increase visitor numbers, whether it’s the Golf Open, Liverpool International Tennis Tournament or the Queen Mary 2 calling for a day.