Summer holiday season worrying for hoteliers

24th August 2009, 10:16am

The beginning of the main summer holiday season in July was worrying for many hoteliers, according to preliminary monthly figures released today by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services.

The capital did manage to achieve a 1.7% increase in occupancy from 88.1% in July 2008 compared to 89.7% in 2009, but room rate and rooms yield both decreased. Room rate was down 11.1%, from £132.86 to £118.11, and rooms yield was down 9.6% to £117.10.

In the regions, the beginning of the summer holiday season did not yield an increase in occupancy. The figures were down 4.3%, from 77.7% last year to 74.4%. Room rate was also down, by 7.7%, from £68.38 to £63.10 and overall, this meant rooms yield was down by 11.7% on July 2008 to £46.92.

However Edinburgh and Cardiff were two cities that did manage to achieve growth in July. In Edinburgh, occupancy increased by an impressive 9.1% to 86.4%. Room rate did decrease, falling 3.8% from £86.11 to £82.82, but the increase in occupancy meant rooms yield increased 4.9% on last year to £71.56.

Robert Barnard, partner of PKF, commented: "It is encouraging to see another increase in occupancy in the capital this month and 89.7% occupancy is very healthy. The strength of the Euro is likely to be one of the reasons behind this. Room rates are still struggling, but this is not surprising given the current climate.
 
"In the regions, although results overall were down, individual cities that made impressive gains are a positive sign."

Related Articles:

• 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
• 21 Jun 2010 - Positive outlook for UK hoteliers in May
• 24 May 2010 - Mixed fortunes for UK hoteliers
• 25 Jan 2010 - Hoteliers cash in on December festivities
• 03 Nov 2009 - 'Staycation' trend set to continue throughout 2010 giving tourism a boost
• 26 Oct 2009 - London hoteliers continue to fill rooms
• 27 Jul 2009 - UK hoteliers experience decline in first half of the year
• 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
• 10 Nov 2008 - How hoteliers can survive the market
• 24 Sep 2008 - UK hotels steady despite gloomy August
• 11 Sep 2008 - UK food sector M&A activity sees upturn
• 01 Sep 2008 - Steady growth for London hoteliers
• 28 Jul 2008 - London hotels remain steady
• 09 Jul 2008 - Hoteliers report steady growth
• 28 May 2008 - London hotels see strong growth
• 29 Apr 2008 - UK hoteliers experience slowdown in March
• 18 Apr 2008 - London hotels report 5.8% rise in room rates
• 11 Apr 2008 - UK hotel sector positioned well for 2008

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