Your Shout: Kevin Casserly, Fleurets

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The traditional English city-centre bed-and-breakfast is set for a gloomy future, and will disappear throughout most of Britain over the next 10 years. As with almost every other area of the hospitality trade, the B&B sector has been hit by the downturn in trade since the events of 11 September. Occupancy levels and achieved room rates have declined, and we're unlikely to see a return to "the good old days" in the immediate future. Additionally, the B&B trade has been hit by the ever-increasing number of low cost/good quality hotels, epitomised in the success of brands such as Travelodge. These units are providing guests with modern, clean facilities in easily accessible areas and at relatively cheap, uniform prices. In my opinion, the B&B market will still exist and continue to provide opportunities for potential growth in traditional seaside towns, but during this decade we will see the gradual demise of the familiar landlady throughout the rest of Britain. This trend will result in many B&Bs and small hotels reverting to their original residential use, or becoming part of larger developments and redevelopments. In the hospitality sector overall, Fleurets' prediction - providing world trade doesn't dip and terrorism doesn't show its ugly face in the UK - is that 2004 will see substantial growth, with the best improvements and most movement taking place in the mid- and upper-price areas.