Easter break and warmer weather drives growth in hotel sector
Strong leisure business over Easter, combined with warmer weather, helped boost hotel performance during April, according to preliminary figures released by accountancy firm BDO.
With around 3.4 million British holiday makers taking a break within the UK during the four-day Easter break, regional hotels recorded a 9.1% year-on-year increase in room yield to £41.36, with the average room rate rising 7.9% to £55.91. Meanwhile, occupancy increased by 1.2% to 74%.
Hoteliers in London also enjoyed a boost in room yield to £95.58, up 8.2% on last year. The average room rate increased 7.4% to £114.93, while occupancy rose 0.7% to 83.2%.
Robert Barnard, partner at BDO, said that the latest hotel data indicated a growing confidence in the UK hotels sector.
"The overall outlook for 2014 appears to be promising, however there might be some bumpy months ahead as the recent dips in economic growth in some EU countries demonstrate that there is still some uncertainty," he warned.
"While the corporate market is usually down during the Easter period, the leisure market has bounced back as the nation made the most of the four-day break. The good weather will be behind the increase in average room rate in the regions, while increased visitation and poor performance in 2013 will have driven the increase in the capital."
BDO's figures are compiled from a survey of mainly three-to-four hotels, largely in chain-operated properties.
‘Strong and encouraging' 2013 figures for UK hotel industry >>