Hilton Liverpool City Centre is one of the city’s best-loved hotels, offering guests an exceptional stay in Liverpool.
As long-standing partners of the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament, we spoke with their Sales Director, Tracy Colley, to discuss what makes the hotel special and the impact of their partnership with our event.
Tell us about Hilton Liverpool City Centre and what guests can expect from a stay at the hotel.
The hotel is right in the city centre, with stunning views of The Royal Albert Dock and Chavasse Park. We’ve got 221 bedrooms, a conference space and a theatre-style event space for up to 450 people. Plus, it has a purpose-built events floor, so if you have a large event that needs breakout areas, everything is on one floor.
Our private event space, Imagine, is unique. It is only available for exclusive use so it’s ideal for private parties, after-parties, and birthdays. Our bar and restaurant, Pima and The Exchange, are on the ground floor.
As the summer days arrive, it’s great to sit on our Al Fresco Summer Terrace, have a Pimms, and take in the city’s ambience. Because of our location between Liverpool One and The Albert Dock, you have a private space to watch the world go by.
The hotel is curved to mirror the shape of a wave coming off the Mersey, so it’s got a very different feel from other buildings and other hotels in the city.
What inspired Hilton Liverpool City Centre to get involved with The Liverpool International Tennis Tournament?
Even though Hilton is a global hospitality company, we’re big on working with the local community and being involved in what’s happening in the city.
A key aspect of that is working with the younger generation and supporting them where we can. This fits perfectly with Liverpool International Tennis Tournament because it’s a special city event.
One of the things I’m passionate about is Liverpool as a destination and in addition to my full-time job I look for opportunities to promote the city. The tournament brings a lot of interest in the area as people come to watch the next group of champions coming through.
We work closely with Liverpool Tennis to align with our goal of working with and supporting the community.
Can you tell us more about how the tournament aligns with Hilton’s values?
Liverpool Tennis is a local event and a destination event. It brings people from across the world to Liverpool to experience the sport and the city. That’s something we’re passionate about at Hilton. We want people to come and have a great stay with us and experience the city.
But although the event attracts international guests, one of the key reasons we work with Liverpool Tennis is connected to Travel with Purpose – Hilton’s strategy to drive responsible travel and tourism globally. As part of the strategy we are committed to creating positive social impact in the communities that we serve.
From a social perspective, we work with local schools and colleges, encouraging them to pick up a racquet. We want to drive kids to do more sports, get involved, and have fun with friends and family.
That’s why we encourage people to visit the city centre tennis events ahead of the tournament, particularly those accessible to kids. It’s about getting sports out into the community.
How else does Hilton Liverpool City Centre support The Liverpool International Tennis Tournament?
Some of the groups come and stay with us during the tournament. It’s great for them because our rooms all have super king-sized beds and blackout curtains, so they’re guaranteed a good night’s sleep. We’re only a 15-minute drive from the event site, too.
We also host tables during the tournament. It’s a great opportunity to take clients who have supported us throughout the year. We entertain them and make sure they enjoy the full tennis experience.
Some people think you’re just going to watch tennis, but it’s more like a day at the races. It’s such a good day, especially if the sun’s out. So we take our clients as a thank you.
We also use the event to recognise our in-house team, whether as a reward for being Employee of the Month or reaching a milestone. It’s great taking customers, but letting our team experience it means they’ll tell people how amazing Liverpool Tennis is.
Tennis is all about precision and performance. How does that link to hospitality at Hilton Liverpool City Centre?
You should have given me these questions beforehand!
Well, we always like to be centre court. And, whether we host a conference, a gala dinner or a charity event, we always make sure everything is precise.
But, whereas tennis is an individual sport, we have to keep our eye on the ball as a team for the best possible performance.
What does hosting an event like Liverpool Tennis mean for the city?
Liverpool Tennis encourages people to come and experience the city we’re so passionate about.
It’s such a good event to host because it’s unique. People might think Liverpool is all about football, but we’re a sporting city with so much more to offer. There’s tennis, sailing, boxing, and lots of other sports.
We want people to visit Liverpool and love it as much as we do. Sport is a massive part of that. You’ve got the heritage, the maritime, and the music, and sports is another thing we do brilliantly.
What are the benefits of your partnership with the tournament?
Our support helps make sure the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament keeps coming to the city. It allows the event to continue and gives the city an opportunity to meet the potential superstars coming through and welcome them to Liverpool.
The tennis also lets us entertain our guests and take them somewhere different. It’s a totally unique experience that doesn’t happen elsewhere.
When our guests go and experience the tennis, they all talk about it afterwards. It’s something no one ever forgets. We always take guests out afterwards, so it’s a great way to entertain our clients and give them a taste of our hotel, tennis, and the city itself.
What would you say to any businesses who were thinking of getting involved in Liverpool tennis?
Liverpool Tennis is a community that supports the next generation.
Lots of young people have backed away from sports over the years. But tennis offers fun, exercise, and fresh air. It’s great for the mind. It’s great for the body.
We should all get involved as a city and give people the chance to experience everything Liverpool offers.
What makes The Liverpool International Tournament special?
It’s more than tennis. It’s an experience, a day out. You can wear your nice outfit and meet up with friends for a social event.
Plus, the young players are phenomenal. Watching them and seeing their passion is fantastic.
It’s excellent for networking as well. The whole thing is an experience from the moment you arrive. We give our guests breakfast first, then head to the tennis for drinks, a bite to eat, and, of course, to take in the action. Then there’s entertainment, afternoon tea, and more tennis.
There’s always something going on. It’s a great day. People I’ve invited previously ask to come back year after year.
Thanks, Tracy. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Hilton is passionate about supporting the local community. That’s something I’m passionate about, too. I love working with universities, colleges, and schools to promote hospitality as a career.
But the main thing I’m hugely passionate about is Liverpool as a destination.
People don’t realise that although we’re a city, we also have a beautiful coastline and stunning countryside. So you’ve got the city, coast, and country in one stay.
The city is ideal for events like this because of the passion of everyone within Liverpool.
That’s what makes The Liverpool International Tennis Tournament a unique event. I love it.
