Hotel and Hospitality Opportunities
With a visitor economy worth £16bn, transport connections across the country and the rest of the world, and a rich cultural heritage, the West Midlands presents a rare opportunity for the hotels and hospitality sector.
Recent major television successes like Peaky Blinders and This Town have spotlighted the West Midlands, bringing a new wave of fascination with the region’s industrial past and musical heritage.
Last year 141m people visited, an impressive and rapid return to above pre-Covid levels, bolstered by Birmingham’s hosting of the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Coventry’s recognition as UK’s City of Culture 2021. One in seven visits to the West Midlands relates to sports.
Hospitality and Hotel Opportunities
With visitor numbers continuing to rise, outpacing other UK regions, the West Midlands needs increased hotel investment to support its thriving visitor economy.
As a region made of multiple cities and many surrounding boroughs, there are numerous opportunities across the West Midlands geography and across the full spectrum of hotel accommodation. Download the Hotel Opportunities brochure for more information on the different areas in our region.
Own the Luxury Market in the UK’s Second City
Birmingham presents a rare opportunity to the market to bring forward the City’s first luxury hotel development.
The City is seeking investors interested in the conversion of an iconic building in a prime location.
Birmingham has a very strong corporate and MICE market, supported by the proximity of the International Convention Centre to the city centre core and its large, high-value financial and professional services sector. This market would be a core focus for a new, luxury development.
Untapped Demand in a City on the Rise
Wolverhampton is undergoing rapid development, with a new transport interchange and a modern commercial quarter already in place. The city’s current hotel capacity is insufficient, offering just 649 branded rooms despite an average demand of 975, which rises to over 1300 during summer months. Notably, there are no hotels within the inner ring road nor dedicated conference facilities.
This presents a prime opportunity for new hotel developments, both in the economy and upscale segments. The local council plans to introduce a new site near the mainline rail station, which offers fast connections to major cities and is close to the Premier League football stadium.
Brochure Download
In the news
Balti, balls and ballet: Five reasons to take a closer look at Birmingham’s booming hospitality market
Becky Frall, Head of Tourism at the West Midlands Growth Company, talks through five reasons why anyone unfamiliar with the West Midlands’ tourism scene should take a closer look.
Sport responsible for 1 in 7 visits to the West Midlands
Sports tourism was responsible for one in seven visits to the West Midlands, new research has revealed.
Record number of visitors chose West Midlands in 2023
More people visited the West Midlands in 2023 than ever before, with 145.4 million spending time in the region to enjoy its culture, food, retail, hospitality, sporting and business events offer.
EY Attractiveness Survey 2023 - West Midlands and the UK
The EY Attractiveness Survey showed a 72% increase in FDI projects landed in the West Midlands in 2023. The region was the leading UK City-Region outside of London, with 127 FDI projects.
