Rockliffe Hall records growth in occupancy rates

A growth in occupancy levels at Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth, County Durham, has enabled the five-star, 61-bedroom resort to create an additional 30 jobs.

In 2012 the resort, which hosted the Team GB football team prior to the Olympic Games, recorded an average occupancy of 68%. This year, so far, the figure has risen to 75%, with weekends regularly fully booked.

The latest set of annual accounts for Rockliffe Hall, which is set within 375 acre estate on the banks of the River Tees, show an annual turnover for the year to 30 June 2012 of £8.4m. Food and beverage was the biggest driver of income, bringing in £3.9m, followed by accommodation (£1.8m), spa (£1.6m), golf (£782,000) and other business (£437,000).

The biggest increase in demand midweek has been from the corporate sector, with major international companies such as Samsung increasingly staying at Rockliffe Hall. Business is also growing from London and the south east, as well as from Europe and the Middle East.

The new business has enable the hotels to take on 30 extra staff, creating a total workforce of 320, main from the local area.

Nick Holmes (pictured), managing director of Rockliffe Hall, said: "There have been so many post-Olympic surveys and reports, many of which claim only London and the South East have benefited from the Games.

"However, we have seen a very real increase in occupancy levels. Business tourism to the North East is definitely on the increase, post-recession, as people realise what outstanding venues, locations and facilities we have to offer.

Holmes added that more people also appear to be taking staycations and booking last-minute breaks.

"In addition, since re-launching The Orangery, our flagship restaurant, earlier this year we've seen a growing interest in lunches, afternoon teas and our more relaxed evening menus. It's certainly a very exciting time for tourism at Rockliffe Hall and across the region as a whole."

Earlier this year Rockliffe Hall received a gold award for business tourism in the NE Tourism Awards and a silver award for business tourism from VisitEngland.

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