Bad weather does not dampen UK hotel market

The UK hotel market has not been dampened by the continuous wet weather, according to latest figures from PKF Hotel Consultancy Services. 

Preliminary June figures showed steady growth in room rate, occupancy and rooms yield in both London and the regions. 

Birmingham and Leeds led the way with respective rooms yield growth of 13.6% and 10.3% and the flooding was partly attributed to the growth in Leeds’ occupancy after it caused a train station to close and force many into the city's hotels for an overnight stop.

However, Robert Barnard, partner for hotel consultancy services at PKF, warned the second spell of flooding would take its toll on regional hotels for July. 

“Hoteliers will be affected not only due to actual flooding, but also as a result of the knock on effect across much of the country’s roads which will have halted many families’ holiday plans,” he said.

Elsewhere, London recorded an increase in occupancy rates - 87.9% compared with 86.7% in 2006 – while the average room rate was also up 10.1% from £126.19 to £138.94. 

The regions also recorded a solid rise thanks to increases in both the average room rate and the average daily occupancy levels. Room yield increased from £52.79 in June last year to £56.12 this year – the result of a 4.4% hike in the average daily room rate and a 1.9% rise in occupancy.

PKF Monthly Hotel Performance Update >>

London hotels boost weekly revpar by 21% >> 

PKF Hotel Britain 2007 >> 

By Helen Gilbert

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