Mark Wilson, Managing Director of Sleepwell Hotels commented on the Manx Grand Prix Proposal:

“Despite the possibility of wide-spread public consternation, it is clear that the Isle of Man Government Department of Economic Development has adopted a measured, perceptive and responsible approach to the complex issue of revising one of the Island’s biggest cultural festivals.

Speaking from the perspective of the tourism and hospitality sector, I can confirm that visitor attendance numbers to the Grand Prix have indeed been dwindling over the past couple of years and can corroborate the department’s evidence that visitors most commonly take irregular, short-breaks during select portions of the festival.

August on the Isle of Man, in particular, is also made conspicuous by both the absence of any major events in the Tourism Calendar and by a traditional drop in business travel to the Island. It is, therefore, my opinion that the proposal to alter the event to more of a cultural festival, to leverage on the success of the TT and the growing popularity of the motorcycle nostalgia market, and to capitalise on the August Bank Holiday to encourage prolonged media and public engagement, is the correct decision.

At The Claremont, we believe the Isle of Man remains the motorcycle capital of the world. Our hotel was almost fully booked for this year’s TT by the New Year and our recent investment in and refurbishment of our rooms is testament to our belief in the popularity and longevity of the Island’s tourism sector.

I believe that, by focusing our existing resources and further capitalising upon both the domestic and international popularity of the festival in such a manner, we can begin to redress this punctuating hiatus in our cultural season. I welcome the proposal and look forward to joining the Island in its continued celebration of the Manx Grand Prix.”