Independent hotel bookings on the rise with UK business travellers
More business travellers are booking independent hotels in the UK, according to the latest research from hotel reservation service HRS.
Figures showed a steady rise month-on month with a 38% increase in the number of bookings for independent hotels from 2013 to 2014. This increased to 59% from 2014 to 2015.
Jon West, managing director of HRS in the UK and Ireland, said: "Outside the US, 30% of the hotels available are chain and 70% are independent but this is not currently reflected by the majority of corporate travel programmes. Interestingly, our latest data for 2014 tells us that while 66% of newly sourced hotels in the UK were independent, a staggering 84% of those actually booked by business travellers in the same year were still chain hotels. So, while it is fantastic news that individual hotels are finally starting to get the recognition they deserve from hotel bookers in 2015, there is still a job to be done in order for them to be truly considered part of a mixed hotel programme combining both chain and independent properties."
He added: "While chain hotels will remain important, independent hotels can be a great choice and are now a truly viable option, deserving of their place in the corporate hotel programme.
"Independent hotels often have more attractive prices and better rating reviews."
HRS has increased its portfolio of independent hotels by 20,000 within the last year. It now offers more than 170,000 non-chain properties.
Travellers in the UK booking via HRS pay £22 more per night than in Europe >>Looking for a job? See all the current hotel vacancies available with The Caterer Jobs >>
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