Old offices to become boutique hotel
ANEW tourism strategy for the West Midlands could grow the visitor economy by more than £1 billion and create 19,000 jobs, claim economic chiefs.
The new West Midlands Regional Tourism Strategy could boost visitor income from £12.6 billion in 2018 to £13.7 billion in a decade by attracting more tourists.
The major focus will be the creation of a regional tourism board.
The strategy also aims to create 19,000 new jobs, ranging from entrylevel to managerial positions.
Showcasing events such as Coventry City of Culture 2021 and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 to a wider audience are central to the strategy which was developed AN office building in Birmingham city centre is set to be converted into a new boutique hotel.
Plans have been unveiled by M&G Real Estate to regenerate King Edward House, in New Street, to create a 259-bedroom hotel.
The building’s office floors would be converted into hotel accommodation while groundfloor units would continue as retail where tenants include Pizza Hut, TSB and Clydesdale Bank.
The work would retain and restore the look of the building
Tourism
Strategy while brightening the exterior.
There is no occupier signed up yet to run the hotel but negotiations are ongoing with one firm to launch its first venture in Birmingham, according to Will Gerrish, M&G Real Estate’s retail development manager.
“The redevelopment proposals for King Edward House represent a significant investment into a unique and historic city centre building, bringing it into full public use for the first time,” he said.
“Advanced discussions
are
comprises both leisure and business tourism, aiming to attract more major conferences and events as well as holidaymakers.
It is claimed to be the first of its kind to be launched by a UK region under way with a boutique hotel operator seeking its first Birmingham presence and we look forward to being able to share more details about them and their ambitions for Birmingham in due course.
“We see real opportunity in repurposing this building to react to an under-supply of hotel accommodation in the city centre and to help support a thriving local economy.
“We now await with interest the decision of the council’s planning department.”
since the Government announced its Tourism Sector Deal in July.
Attracting more international visitors is a key element