Harrogate has long been recognised as a desirable visitor destination. It attracts more than three million visitors each year, contributing £452 million to the local economy. From hotels and visitor attractions to independent shops and restaurants, many of our businesses rely on the spending that visitors bring.

To make sure Harrogate continues to thrive as a leading destination, Harrogate BID is working with the Harrogate Hospitality & Tourism Association to explore a new idea – the creation of an Accommodation Business Improvement District, or ABID.

What is the Harrogate ABID?

Modelled on successful initiatives in cities such as Manchester and Liverpool, the proposed Harrogate ABID would introduce a £2-per-room, per-night visitor levy on hotels with a rateable value of £55,000 and above.

The funds raised – estimated at around £679,000 a year – would be invested directly into projects that boost overnight stays, attract new visitors and events, and strengthen Harrogate’s reputation as a first-class destination for both leisure and business.

What would it deliver?

The proposed ABID would focus on three key areas:

  • Destination Marketing – Creating powerful campaigns, a fresh visitor-facing brand, and a new consumer website to raise Harrogate’s profile.
  • Business Events – Attracting and retaining high-value conferences and meetings, helping a variety of venues, like Harrogate Convention Centre, the Great Yorkshire Showground and smaller hotel venues, secure events that bring year-round overnight stays.
  • Leisure Events – Developing a year-round calendar of cultural, leisure and high profile events to attract visitors during quieter months and showcase Harrogate’s unique character.

How would it work?

The ABID would be led by a board of five, including three hoteliers, and would work closely with Harrogate BID and North Yorkshire Council. Transparency would be key, with quarterly reviews, annual reports and stakeholder meetings ensuring accountability and collaboration at every stage.

The Business Plan has been developed in collaboration with the affected hotels, ensuring their views and priorities are built into the proposal.

How does it differ from the existing BID?

The existing BID works to support businesses in Harrogate town centre by creating a clean, safe and attractive town centre, driving footfall into the town centre and providing a voice for all town centre businesses. It supports a broad range of businesses within the levy-paying area including retailers, hospitality businesses and professional services.

In contrast, the proposed ABID is specifically targeted at the hotels above £55,000 in rateable value, and is designed to raise revenue from overnight stays to invest in destination promotion, event attraction and overnight-stay growth.

So while the BID focuses on the town-centre business environment broadly, this ABID would focus specifically on driving overnight visitation.

Will other accommodation providers be affected?

Only the ring-fenced group of 15 hotels meeting the threshold will collect the levy. Other accommodation providers (for example smaller hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, self-catering) will not be required to pay the levy. However, they will benefit from the increased visitor numbers, greater overnight stays, raised destination profile and the activities funded by the ABID.

In short: the levy collection is limited to the defined hotel group, but the benefit is shared across the destination.

What happens next

Right now, the Harrogate ABID is still a proposal and affected hotels have been consulted throughout 2025.

To determine if the proposal moves forward, a formal ballot is planned for early 2026. Should the majority of the 15 affected businesses vote in favour, the ABID would officially begin in early 2027 and run for five years.

If you’d like to learn more or share your thoughts, get in touch with the Harrogate BID team at info@harrogatebid.co.uk.