Hoteliers cash in on December festivities

25th January 2010, 9:01am

Hoteliers in London and Edinburgh were able to cash in on December festivities, but many of the rest of the UK's hotels were not so lucky, according to preliminary monthly figures for December released today by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services.

In London, Christmas and New Year festivities meant occupancy increased year on year by 5.3%, from 72.8% in 2008 to 76.7% in 2009. Room rate rose by 1.9% from £115.11 in 2008 to £117.27 this year, while rooms yield was up 7.3% from £83.82 to £89.93.

Looking at the year to date, 2009 was a difficult year for the capital, but occupancy did manage to increase in comparison to the 12 months of 2008, increasing 1.2% from 80.1% in 2008 to 81.2% in 2009. Overall, rooms yield was down however, from £97.11 to £92.91 – a fall of 4.3%.

In the regions, occupancy was able to creep up in December by 0.1% from 59.0% last year to 59.1% this year. Room rate fell year on year, from £64.39 last year to £60.24 this year and this meant rooms yield was down 6.3% on December last year.

For the year overall, it was tough for regional UK hoteliers. Occupancy was down 5.1% on the 2008 figures, from 71.0% to 67.4%. Room rate was down 7.8% from £68.85 to £63.47 and rooms yield was down 12.6% on the 2008 figures, from £48.91 to £42.77.

Robert Barnard, partner for Hotel Consultancy Services at PKF, commented: "2009 was a challenging year for UK hoteliers. The December figures show that the market is still tough for many UK hoteliers and the increases that were gained should in part be put down to the recovery from the badly affected 2008 December figures.
 
"The global and UK economies are not out of the woods yet, but over the course of 2010 I would hope to see trade pick up in response to a gradual recovery in global travel as the year develops.
 
"The extreme weather over January will affect the figures for this month, although this may be for the positive as those stranded may have had no option but to check in to a hotel for the night."

Related Articles:

• 02 Mar 2011 - Increases in room rates for UK hoteliers
• 10 Jan 2011 - Strong figures for London hoteliers in November, finds PKF
• 22 Nov 2010 - Hoteliers post mix bag of results for October
• 01 Nov 2010 - Strong September for hoteliers across the UK, says PKF
• 29 Sep 2010 - UK hoteliers achieve healthy August, says PKF
• 25 Aug 2010 - London hoteliers achieve strong July figures
• 24 May 2010 - Mixed fortunes for UK hoteliers
• 22 Mar 2010 - London hoteliers achieve healthy growth
• 22 Feb 2010 - Snowfall in January affects many UK hoteliers
• 26 Oct 2009 - London hoteliers continue to fill rooms
• 24 Aug 2009 - Summer holiday season worrying for hoteliers
• 28 May 2009 - Regional hotels experience fall in room rates
• 20 Apr 2009 - Further falls for UK hoteliers
• 26 Mar 2009 - Tough times predicted for UK hotel industry
• 26 Jan 2009 - UK hotel room rates continue to decline
• 16 Dec 2008 - UK hoteliers continue to feel pinch
• 10 Nov 2008 - How hoteliers can survive the market
• 24 Sep 2008 - UK hotels steady despite gloomy August
• 28 Jul 2008 - London hotels remain steady
• 09 Jul 2008 - Hoteliers report steady growth

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