United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
UK hotels suffer poor August
Sunday, 28 Sep, 2009
0
UK hotels suffered a poor August mainly to a slump in room rates.
Preliminary monthly figures from PKF Hotel Consultancy Services show that in London, room rate was down seven per cent on the same month last year from £109.77 to £102.07.
Occupancy also dropped, by 2.3%, from 83.7% last year to 81.8% this year. Rooms yield was down 9.2%, from £91.96 to £83.53.
Rooms yield in the UK regions was down 11% from £49.57 to £44.10. This was largely as a result of an eight per cent decline in room rate from £66.19 in 2008 to £60.91 in 2009. Occupancy also dropped, by 3.3%, from 74.8% to 72.4%.
Year to date figures for both London and the regions painted a similar picture with rooms yield down 7.7% from £96.04 to £88.63 and 13.3% from £48.76 to £42.27 respectively.
Edinburgh was able to achieve growth in occupancy in August from 88.9% last year to 91.3% this year. But room rate was down 7.1% which dragged down the city’s overall performance. Rooms yield was down 4.7% to £102.61.
Leeds and Liverpool were also able to increase occupancy, but again yield was pulled down by the drops in room rate. Room rate in Leeds was down 8.4% to £58.26 while occupancy rose 3.0% to 73.7% on the same month last year. Rooms yield was down 5.7% to £42.93.
Liverpool room rate was down compared to August 2008. It fell 21.2% from £70.91 to £55.86. Occupancy rose by 7.6%, but rooms yield was down 15.3% from £48.51 to £41.11.
PKF hotel consultancy service partner Robert Barnard said: “This year was always going to be a tough one for hoteliers and therefore these figures are not hugely surprising.
“It is heartening to see that occupancy rates are creeping back up in many of the cities – Edinburgh in particular had an astonishing month achieving 91.3% occupancy – and Liverpool managing a 7.6% increase was particularly impressive given the 2008 figures were already boosted as a result of the city’s status as European Capital of Culture. On the flip side, this explains why Liverpool’s room rate is down so dramatically.
“But, ultimately, if hoteliers can continue to draw in visitors, they will be in a better position to slowly increase room rate as soon as the economic situation allows them to.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Walt Leger on New Orleans’ Resilience and Major Events Ahead
Cindy Mackin Shares Estes Park’s Winter Thrills
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Report: Cruise guest died after ship lashed in heavy storm
British teen in serious condition after paraglider collision