European shoppers flocking to Birmingham
Birmingham is fast becoming a shopping destination for Europeans keen to make the most of the strong buying power of the Euro.
Hoteliers and retailers in Birmingham said they had seen an increase in overseas visitors, particularly from European countries, in the last few months.
Malmaison Birmingham general manager Stephen Woodhouse said the hotel had seen a 22 per cent increase in business from French, Irish, German, Spanish and Italian visitors in January this year compared to 2008’s figures.
He said: “I think with the Euro now competing with the pound, it’s giving them something for their money.
“The Euro is no longer the poor relation and European visitors can come over here and spend it now we have an offer like the Mailbox and Bullring and hotels like us and Hotel Du Vin.
“In the evening when they come back and have a drink in the bar, just the amount of bags they are carrying gives it away.
“They are surprised by the quality of the retail shops we have within Birmingham and what we have to offer in the city.”
Kevin Breese, general manager of Harvey Nichols Birmingham, said he had also seen an increase in European shoppers, tracing the phenomenon back to before Christmas when the Euro started to make real inroads into the value of sterling.
He said: “Without a shadow of a doubt, we are certainly seeing a lot of European visitors in the city. Even if they are maybe just coming for a weekend, we are seeing some really good significant purchases.
“I think the number one nationality has got to be Irish with the way that a people can fly very cheaply from there. Also we have seen more people from places like France and Germany.
“It’s a very good thing in what are very difficult times,” he added.
