UK hotel occupancy hits plateau
UK hotel occupancy has begun to plateau, according to the latest figures from TRI Hospitality Consulting.
Occupancy across the country grew by just 0.2% to 77% during October, when compared with the same month in 2003.
Revenue per available room (revpar) rose by 1.7% to £56.27, fuelled by a room rate increase of 1.5%.
Jonathan Langston, managing director of TRI Hospitality Consulting, said: "Occupancy is now approaching peak levels. Hoteliers are increasingly focused on driving room prices rather than simply filling them."
London has seen steeper hikes in room rates than the rest of the country. Occupancy in the capital was virtually unchanged at 83.3% but revpar grew by 4.8% on the back of a 4.6% jump in rates.
"London has reached its occupancy ceiling and moved room rates forward impressively as a result," Langston added.
At provincial hotels, where occupancy crept up by 0.2% to 74.7%, revpar growth has been more modest, increasing by 0.5% as the result of a 0.2% rise in room rates.
by Tom Bill
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