London leads UK hotels revival
The UK hotel industry is booming, with both bedroom occupancy and room rates higher in 1994 than in 1993, according to a report from consultancy firm Horwath UK.
London in particular has benefited from this improved performance, says the study, The UK Hotel Industry 1995. Demand in the capital is now so high that more hotels are urgently needed.
Jonathan Bodlender, Horwath UK's chairman, said the improved trading was being carried through into 1995.
"As demand continues to strengthen, room rates will move upward. This is already happening in London, which in 1995 enjoyed its busiest summer since the start of the recession," he said.
While London and provincial hoteliers faced a brighter future than for many years, resort hoteliers faced the biggest challenge of all, Mr Bodlender warned.
"Many resorts do not recognise readily enough that the market moves on while the resort stands still. For many, the key element in success is the quality of entertainment which a resort can offer its visitors," he added.
"Resort hoteliers have to bear in mind that only one quarter of UK holidaymakers use serviced accommodation on their main holiday," Mr Bodlender said.
The figures for the whole of Ireland shown in the table come from a separate study from Horwath called Ireland and Northern Ireland Hotel Industry Survey 1995.
In the foreword, Enda Kenny, the Irish minister for tourism and trade, said Ireland's foreign exchange earnings from tourism were expected to top IR£2.25b by the year 2000.
The UK Hotel Industry 1995 costs £100 from Horwath UK, tel: 0171-353 5380. Ireland and Northern Ireland Hotel Industry Survey 1995 costs £75 from Horwath Bastow Charleton, tel: 00 353 1 676 0951.
