A major promotion to welcome visitors back to Hull has been launched.
The It Must Be Hull Campaign will invite local, regional and national visitors to rediscover the former City of Culture.
Hull is continuing to grow its reputation as a top tourist destination on the back of the proud status, with latest figures showing that the visitor economy grew to £350 million in 2019. This rose from £313 million in 2018, an increase of 12 per cent prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
It was recently named one of Britain’s top 10 city breaks by the Guardian.
Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council, said: “Hull used to be one of Britain’s best kept secrets – not anymore. In recent years, we’ve seen more and more people visit and fall in love with our city, which in turn has encouraged various businesses to invest in Hull and our tourism offer.
“With 2021 set to be another year where ‘staycations’ are popular, this is a fantastic opportunity to show off our wonderful city and all the fantastic things it has to offer.”
It Must Be Hull will include a major advertising push alongside new content on the Visit Hull website outlining all that Hull has to offer to residents and visitors. It will include social media activity that industry partners can engage with alongside radio and YouTube advertising that will encourage people to discover, or rediscover, the city.
Hull’s hotels are creating special offers to encourage local diners and overnight visitors.
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The city’s hotels received national praise recently when the Hideout Hotel, in the Old Town, was crowned winner of Channel Four’s Four in a Bed.
Jodie Richardson from Hideout Hotel said: “We’re thrilled Hideout is part of the Visit Hull campaign! We love showing our guests what the city has to offer and can’t wait to get the hotel filled up with leisure stays again.”
Nicola Shillito, senior sales manager at Holiday Inn Hull Marina, also holds a national role handling meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions. She said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with, and to support, the Visit Hull campaign, to welcome visitors back to our wonderful city.
“This requires every effort, from every business, to ensure we offer a safe place for both local residents and visitors to the city, to ensure there is no hesitation when planning a visit, as we are vital to the success of this campaign.
“Our team cannot wait to welcome leisure visitors back for overnight stays and we know that by putting in the hard work to encourage overnight leisure breaks, it will benefit other businesses and tourist attractions too.”
Visitors will notice numerous new additions to the city since lockdown.
Ponto Lounge and Wrecking Ball, a music and book store that also has a café and arts space, has recently opened in the city centre, as have various new offers in Trinity Market - home to a range of street food and independent businesses.
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Hull’s much-loved cultural attractions have also reopened following lockdown. This includes The Deep, one of the country’s most spectacular aquariums, the Street Life Museum and Hull New Theatre. Hull’s Ferens Art Gallery has also reopened its doors and is currently exhibiting a masterpiece from Claude Monet – it is the first time work of the celebrated French impressionist has been exhibited in the city.
There are plenty of events running throughout the period of the campaign, including the White Rabbit Trail which launched last month. There will also be shows and events at Hull Truck Theatre and Bonus Arena, and much-loved festivals such as Freedom Festival and Humber Street Sesh.
Hull is also a host city for this year’s Rugby League World Cup.
The campaign will run through until the autumn and aims to help support Hull’s tourism economy, including hotels and attractions. Businesses can engage with the campaign in a variety of ways, using #MustBeHull to highlight what is special and unique about their business and the city.
Visit Hull has also produced digital templates, which are available for businesses to use on their social media platforms for free. For more information visit