New funding for hotels to support Redcar & Cleveland’s £140m visitor economy

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council is inviting local hotels and B&Bs to apply for grant funding and create additional guest bedrooms.

The authority is offering up to £5,000 per new bed space for hoteliers and bed and breakfast owners to expand their offering.

The cash will come from the council’s ‘Welcome to’ fund, launched to improve accomodation availability in the borough.

Providers based in Saltburn, Guisborough, Loftus and Redcar town centres are all eligible for the grants.

Cllr Bob Norton, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Highways, commented: “Tourism is an essential part of the borough’s economy.

“Many people don’t realise that the three million visitors to our borough every year generate around £140m in spend and support nearly 2,000 local jobs.”

He added: “By providing this funding to encourage more people to stay overnight, we also create more potential business for our pubs, shops, restaurants and other visitor attractions.”

The authority’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Communications, Cllr Carl Quartermain, said: “We know Saltburn, Guisborough, Loftus and Redcar are popular with visitors but the lack of suitable accommodation for overnight stays is a drawback.

“The ‘Welcome to’ funding is an opportunity for businesses to get financial help with adapting their properties to create more bed spaces for guests.”

Conditions of the grant funding include a 40% commitment in match funding from the business, which must also apply for Visit England accreditation.