Hotel groups joining the British Hospitality Association (BHA ) during the year enabled the BHA to claim  that it now represents every publicly-quoted UK hotel company, states the association's annual report, published this week.

Among the groups are Macdonald Hotels, Principal Hotels, Hand Picked Hotels, Hanover International, Marston Hotels, Cendant and Citadines; individual hotels included the Celtic Manor Hotel, Newport, Le Manoir aux Quat'saisons and the Four Seasons Hotel, Canary Wharf.

In addition, two restaurant groups joined as well as over 2,500 affiliated members through two Welsh tourism companies.

The report says that the association's higher profile and its persistent advocacy of the industry's interests to government and in the media were playing a key part in increasing membership, which now stood at over 30,000 establishments with nearly 500,000 employees.

2001 was a most difficult year for the industry, says chief executive, Bob Cotton, but businesses had survived in better shape than would have been thought possible. "There is no doubt that, as a result of the turmoil, the industry's profile (in no small measure due to the association's efforts) has encouraged the government to recognise the fundamental importance of tourism and hospitality to the UK economy."

The greatest prize that was won was the £20m additional funding to finance the BTA's promotion overseas following the events of 2001, matched by a further £20m match-funding from industry.

"This is an example of how a public/private partnership can work to the benefit of an industry," Mr Cotton says. "We believe that this arrangement shows the way forward for future funding."

He described the setting up of the Best Practice Forum, led by the BHA, as one of the most important developments in the industry's history.

"Its work will, we believe, enable employers in the industry to raise their levels of productivity - and, thus, profits - through adopting best practice."