Hoteliers should ‘take heart’ from strong occupancy levels recorded in London and Edinburgh, as the rest of the UK experienced difficult trading in the run-up to Christmas.
According to preliminary monthly figures for October and November by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services, occupancy in the capital increased by 5.9% compared to last year. While room rate was down 1.6% to £119.66, rooms yield increased by 4.2% in October and November.
Hotels in Edinburgh saw a 3.3% rise in occupancy to 78.5%, while rooms yield declined by 2.5% to £61.51.
However, for hoteliers in the rest of the county October and November were difficult months. In the regions room rate was down 7.8% to £60.52. Occupancy also dropped 3.5% 68.9%, while rooms yield figures were down 11.1% year-on-year.
Year to date figures highlight that room rate has contributed most to negative growth over the 11 months of the year to November.
In the regions, room rate was down 7.2%, while occupancy was down 5.9% and rooms yield fell 12.7%.
In London room rate was down 5.8% and rooms yield dropped 5.1%, while occupancy rose by 0.8%.
Robert Barnard, partner for Hotel Consultancy Services at PKF, said 2009 has been a difficult one for the hotel industry.
“This is not surprising given the current recessionary climate and average achieved room rate has been the main contributory factor,” he said.
“On a positive note, occupancy remains strong in certain cities and hoteliers should take heart from this.”
Preliminary data for October and November 2009
| Rooms department | 2009 | 2008 | % change |
| UK Regional hotels (663) | | | |
| Average daily room rate per occupied room | £60.52 | £65.66 | -7.8 |
| Average daily room occupancy | 68.9% | 71.4% | -3.5 |
| Average daily rooms yield per available room | £41.72 | £46.91 | -11.1 |
| Approximate number of rooms per day | 138,050 | 137,550 | |
| London hotels (126) | | | |
| Average daily room rate per occupied room | £119.66 | £121.61 | -1.6% |
| Average daily rooms yield per available room | £103.94 | £99.77 | 4.2% |
| Approximate number of rooms per day | 51,900 | 51,400 | |
By Kerstin Kühn
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