St George’s Hall © Getty Images
Spurred on by the challenges of the past year, Liverpool’s commitment to becoming the most exciting city in the UK – both on-street and online – has never been stronger.
In a clear reflection of that intent, three of the city’s most iconic buildings have now joined forces to embrace a pioneering new booking system that will see their historic beauty become infinitely more accessible to both residents and visitors.
The platform chosen to power all of Liverpool Town Hall, St George’s Hall and Croxteth Hall‘s bookings is the latest innovation from multi-award-winning venue, event and facilities software provider, OPTIMO.
Liverpool Town Hall © Herve Gillet
The move comes at a critical time, with the council addressing the vital need to increase city revenue in a modern and progressive way. It will be a pivotal component in boosting both business tourism and the visitor economy, as Liverpool gets set to completely reopen to residents and visitors this summer (in line with Step 4 of the UK Government’s ‘Roadmap out of lockdown’).
The digital resource will streamline reservation activity for all three Halls, allowing bookings from organisations for corporate and commercial events – as well as bookings for weddings – to be made in a swift and efficient manner.
The migration to OPTIMO will result in an improved experience for prospective bookers, and will be a significant player in the resurgence of all three Halls, which, like many other venues up and down the country, have been closed for events due to numerous lockdown and tier restrictions.
Croxteth Hall
This is the latest in a number of key developments for the civic buildings, with Croxteth Hall last year earmarking plans to carry out £650k worth of essential repairs and St George’s Hall successfully securing £250k in funding to create a new digital visitor attraction – the latter being another crucial component in the city’s mission to embrace new-age technology.
Pending building repairs and enhancements, future updates with regards to respective reopening dates will be announced via each of the Halls’ websites and social media channels. In the meantime, all booking enquires are being actively encouraged, with the City Halls team on hand to advise bookers once they have made their reservation online via the new OPTIMO booking system.
All event bookings for Liverpool Town Hall and St George’s Hall can now be made at https://eventscityhalls.liverpool.gov.uk, while bookings for Croxteth Hall will also be available via this address at a later date.
Reaction
Head of Liverpool City Assets, Angie Redhead, said: “While the pandemic has undoubtedly hit all three of our City Halls hard, we have used our time during the enforced closure period to make some vital changes in how we operate, with future thinking very much at the core of our decision-making.
“The pioneering booking system solution provided to us by OPTIMO will mean that our team can now work in a more integrated manner, to ensure that nearly-weds, corporate and commercial organisations alike can enjoy special moments within each of our historic sites.
“The Halls have all played their part throughout the pandemic, helping out with services such as ‘Nightingale’ courts and mass testing centres. We can’t underestimate how important that is, but equally, we’re looking forward to getting back to what we do best; providing three amazing and unique venues for residents and visitors to enjoy.”
OPTIMO CEO, Shantha Ruban, said of the partnership: “It is a privilege and a pleasure to be working with such a forward-thinking team as the City Halls have. Their focus on the future is very closely aligned with our own and we’re excited to play a role in their ongoing success as the city begins to open back up.”
More Information
About OPTIMO
- OPTIMO is a leading global venue, event and facilities management software provider with a mission to deliver tomorrow’s technology, today.
- The latest, multi-award-winning version of the OPTIMO platform represents the culmination of over 4 years intensive R&D and is the world’s first fully-integrated, browser-based software solution for managing venues, events, facilities & resources.
- OPTIMO is trusted by some of the biggest events and venues in the UK and worldwide such as, Silverstone F1 Circuit, Sodexo, DWTC, Wimbledon, Sepang F1 Circuit, MasterCard, Cricket World Cup, FIFA World Cup & the London Olympics 2012 to name just a few.
- OPTIMO has been working with Councils and Local Government Organisations around the world for many years, but has only recently been made available to the UK Public Sector. Demand for OPTIMO’s latest platform release has driven significant growth, given its’ unique nature and direct compatibility with Public Sector requirements.
- The team recently won the ‘Most Innovative Venue & Event Management Solution at the 2020 Corporate Vision Awards.
- More information is available at http://www.optimoevents.com/
About St George’s Hall
- Initially opened in 1854, the Grade I listed St George’s Hall is recognised as one of the finest neoclassical buildings in the world and forms an intrinsic part of Liverpool’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Situated on St George’s Plateau, opposite Liverpool Lime Street Station, the Hall is recognised as the emotional heart of the city, having hosted numerous congregations, commemorations and celebrations since its inception during the Victorian period.
- Since it’s official reopening by Prince Charles in 2007, this history-steeped building has earned a stellar reputation as a landmark venue for weddings, corporate events, live performances, exhibitions, tours and immersive experiences.
- More information is available at https://stgeorgeshallliverpool.co.uk/.
About Liverpool Town Hall
- Built in 1749, the Grade 1 listed Liverpool Town Hall is a masterful example of Georgian architecture and is recognised as one of the finest surviving town halls of the 18th Century.
- Situated within the city’s prestigious World Heritage Site, this breath-taking building is the base for the Lord Mayor of Liverpool and all civic duties.
- When it is not being used for civic business, the Town Hall provides an ornate backdrop for a variety of events including weddings, corporate get-togethers, dances and balls.
- More information is available at https://www.liverpooltownhall.co.uk/.
About Croxteth Hall
- Beginning life as an Elizabethan hunting Lodge back in 1575, the Grade II* Croxteth Hall has developed over the generations and boasts a number of architectural styles, including Tudor, Georgian and Queen Anne features.
- This unique structure was once the stately home of the Earls of Sefton, the Molyneux Family, and sits within a traditional Country Park which is Liverpool’s largest green space, at over 500 acres.
- The park is a little haven of countryside offering a sense of escapism from the city surroundings which engulf it, while the Hall itself is a stunning and unique venue for weddings, functions, and conferences.
- More information is available at https://www.croxteth-hall.co.uk/.