Rising confidence at Blackpool's biggest hoteliers show

The spotlight fell on the hotel industry at the biggest Stay Blackpool trade show ever.
The Stay Blackpool trade show at the Empress Ballroom Winter GardensThe Stay Blackpool trade show at the Empress Ballroom Winter Gardens
The Stay Blackpool trade show at the Empress Ballroom Winter Gardens

Scores of stalls and services greeted the hundreds of hotel owners coming to the Winter Gardens for the most important show of its kind in the resort.

Claire Smith, chairman of Stay Blackpool, said: “As hoteliers we tend to live in a little cocoon but are expected to be experts at a who range of things.

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The idea of the show is that we get as many service providers as we can all connected with a accommodation be it serviced or unserviced apartments, so that hoteliers can come to a one stop shop and gather all the information they need.

“We are holding it here at the Winter Gardens for the first time because we want to support this fantastic building.

“We were very nervous in the early days this is our fifth year and this is most definitely our biggest and best show yet.”

Hotelier Mick Grewcock said: “It’s a fantastic show it’s been really busy. We have pulled in exhibitors and visitors from Over Wyre and the Fylde too this time.

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“Running a hotel can be very lonely. You can be isolated can’t get out and meet people while you are busy with guests. Here you can meet others and network.”

Ian Hardwick, from online booking site Eviivo, said they were delighted to be part of the show. He said: “The show has gone from strength to strength and being in this new venue it, is a testament to the rising confidence felt in tourism here at the moment.”

He added that bookings were on the rise with online bookings for sea-side towns including Blackpool up 23 per cent in bookings and 32 per cent in value so hoteliers were getting more money per booking too.

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