Holiday makers boost occupancy levels for UK hotels

28th September 2009, 11:07am

Holiday makers have boosted occupancy levels for provincial UK chain hotels in August, according to the latest HotStats survey by industry experts TRI Hospitality Consulting.

Although occupancy levels were at similar levels to August 2008, provincial hoteliers continued to compete on price, resulting in an 8.3% year on year drop in achieved average room rate to £64.51.

In contrast, the decline in average occupancy levels was only 0.6 percentage points, to 71.8%, representing the smallest margin of decline since the beginning of the year.

David Bailey, deputy managing director, TRI, said: "For once it is provincial hoteliers who are making the headlines and for all the right reasons. The UK's top tourism destinations have successfully attracted domestic holiday makers who have understandably been dissuaded from travelling abroad at this time by the high costs and unfavourable exchange rates."

Meanwhile despite major commercial-led city centres such as Newcastle and Liverpool continuing to experience declines in occupancy levels, at 2.8 percentage points and 3.3 percentage points, popular destinations for tourism such as Stratford-upon-Avon and Brighton enjoyed an increase in room occupancy levels in August 2009, compared to 2008. 

The largest margins of growth in occupancy levels were in York, at 12 percentage points and Blackpool, at more than 9 percentage points.

Related Articles:

• 24 Feb 2010 - TRI Hospitality Consulting named hotel industry's preferred advisor of the year
• 04 Feb 2010 - Confidence amongst hoteliers suffer a slight setback, says TRI
• 03 Nov 2009 - 'Staycation' trend set to continue throughout 2010 giving tourism a boost
• 01 Oct 2009 - European hotels experience a weak August
• 26 Aug 2009 - London Hotel occupancy exceeds 2008 levels
• 24 Aug 2009 - TRI partners with Visit London
• 18 Aug 2009 - UK hotel general managers remain positive
• 28 Jul 2009 - Occupancy levels hold up at London hotels
• 25 Jun 2009 - Recession has less impact on UK hotels
• 22 May 2009 - London occupancy stays above 80%
• 28 Apr 2009 - Lower hotel room rates keep occupancy high
• 27 Apr 2009 - UK hotel managers are more optimistic
• 24 Apr 2009 - UK hotels experience heavy falls in profit
• 30 Mar 2009 - Mixed performance across key city hotel markets
• 25 Mar 2009 - Profit down by 17% at London hotels
• 03 Mar 2009 - Hotel's revenue and profit continues to fall
• 25 Feb 2009 - Hotel profits fall by almost one third
• 23 Feb 2009 - TRI Hospitality Consulting wins hotel report award
• 09 Feb 2009 - UK hotels face most challenging conditions in 17 years
• 28 Jan 2009 - 64% of hotel managers concerned for 2009
• 28 Jan 2009 - Flat profit at London hotels
• 15 Dec 2008 - TRI nominated for 2009 Hotel Report Awards

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