UK hotel market remains steady
According to the latest PKF report, the UK hotel market has shown an almost static performance.
Although March saw a fairly flat performance from the UK hotel industry, outside factors such as school holidays and the Easter weekend have levelled, but not stalled the momentum seen in the past few months.
In London, occupancy fell 0.8 percentage points to 77.1%, while the average room rate increased by 0.9 % to £101.15, leaving room yield up 0.1% at £78.
Outside London, the picture was similar with occupancy down 4.1 percentage points down to 68.5% average room rate again went up 0.9% to £64.22. Room yield however, fell by 3.2% to £43.97.
Figures from hospitality consultancy firm TRI paint a slightly bleaker picture. Three- and four-star chain hotels have recorded a 2.3 percentage point fall in occupancy to 71.1% across the UK, according to the consultant.
However, its figures for London hotels matched those of PKF with hotels recording a 0.8% percentage point fall in occupancy to 79.6% in March.
Provincial hotels suffered further with a 2.8 percentage point fall to 67.8% occupancy. Room rates did improve marginally to £65.33, up by 1.1% on the month.
TRI's managing director Jonathan Langston said: "Easter falling a month earlier this year has adversely affected the numbers. But we remain optimistic for the year as a whole."
