Information and advice for visitors to Southampton will soon be back on offer at locations across the city.

Seven new Tourist Information Points (TIPs) will be introduced in hotels and shops over the next few weeks to succeed the city’s Tourist Information Centre, which closed last year.

They are the brainchild of the Southampton Hoteliers Association and Destination Southampton, and have seen 25 members of staff at six hotels trained to provide information and advice to tourists.

The city’s old Tourist Information Centre, in Civic Centre Road, fell victim to the £16m cuts at the city council last year and closed last April.

The hotels involved are the Mercure Dolphin Hotel, Novotel in West Quay Road, Chilworth Manor, the Jury’s Inn, the Meon Valley Marriott and the De Vere at New Place.

And there will also be a TIP at Oceans tea room and shop in Southampton’s High Street, while discussions are ongoing about another one at one of Red Funnel’s ferry terminals.

Tourists will be able to speak to staff at the hotels’ receptions, who will be able to provide information and hand out leaflets about what’s going on in the city.

Neil Brailsford, general manager of the Mercure Dolphin, said: “The whole purpose really is that we give people visiting the city the right welcome.

“It’s something that we felt would really benefit the city. Tourist information is something we get asked about regularly at the hotels.”

Shirley Pinn, secretary of the Hoteliers Association and managing director of Destination Southampton, said: “The collaboration of the Southampton Hoteliers Association to introduce six new TIPs across the city is a great display of achievement.

“Visitors to the city, business and leisure need a point to get information, maps and advice and the new TIPs will provide much needed tourism support.”