Occupancy is the main worry in the minds of UK hoteliers, failing to mirror the more healthy advances in both room rate and rooms yield…
Occupancy is the main worry in the minds of UK hoteliers, failing to mirror the more healthy advances in both room rate and rooms yield for the latter part of the summer this year, according to figures published today by PKF hotel consultancy services.
London hotels saw occupancy drop 1.4% in August to 79.4%, however, average room rate rose 6.2% to £89.57 and rooms yield was up 4.7% to £71.15.
Outside London, hoteliers saw August`s occupancy almost static at 74.5% – only 0.8% higher than the same month in 2003. Average room rate increased 4.7% to £61.71 and rooms yield rose 5.6% to £45.96.
Alex Clarke, hotel consultancy services consultant at PKF, said: “UK hoteliers saw rooms yield increase steadily during August but occupancy figures are very disappointing. We would expect to see occupancy pick up during the summer high season, but this doesn`t seem to have been the case, possibly holidaymakers were put off by the cool summer and, in some areas, the flooding. “In London domestic visitor figures were down, although increased travel abroad to seek good weather may have been a factor. It will be particularly interesting to see whether September`s performance will show an improvement, especially in London, with the return of the corporate business after the holiday season.”
Preliminary data for August 2004
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
