The UK hotel industry was holding steady shortly before the bomb attacks on London, with new figures showing occupancy levels in June…
The UK hotel industry was holding steady shortly before the bomb attacks on London, with new figures showing occupancy levels in June were static, whilst room rate and productivity saw modest but healthy increases, according to from PKF (UK) LLP hotel consultancy services.
PKF`s report shows London hotel occupancy rose 1% to 82.5% during June. Average room rate was up by 4.5% to £114.84 and rooms yield increased by 5.5% to £94.71.
Hoteliers outside London also experienced little movement in occupancy, which was down 0.6% to 76.2%, whilst average room rate rose 3.5% to £67.86. Rooms yield increased 2.9% to £51.71.
Robert Barnard, partner for hotel consultancy services at PKF, said: “London`s hotel industry was holding its own during June, pushing up performance levels and maintaining occupancy. However, the unprecedented tragic events of 7 July will no doubt leave a mark on the industry performance in July and the effects could echo through the next few months. We hope to see London and the tourist trade hold up strongly but if the bombings deter both business and leisure visitors then hoteliers will suffer. Thoughts of preparations for the visitor influx during the Olympics in 2012 have now turned to immediate matters of ensuring London is still a place people want to visit during 2005.
“The regions were generally in line with London during June – occupancy flatlining whilst average rate and rooms yield rise slowing. The attacks on London may reverberate around the UK but we would expect the regions to be more cushioned from this blow than the capital as hoteliers outside London rely more heavily on domestic travel.”
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