UK City Hotels Enjoy Busy Summer

Hotels in the UK’s big cities have enjoyed a buoyant summer with growth in both room rate and occupancy, according to PKF Hotel Consultancy Services.

The Farnborough might have contributed to increased hotel reservations in London, according to PKF, with occupancy rising 2 percent on the same period last year from 86.5 percent to 88.3 percent. Room rates increased more than 15 percent, from $260 to $300, and overall rooms yield increased by a substantial 18 percent, from $225 to $265.

In the UK regions, occupancy was down slightly from 77.2 percent in 2007 to 75.9 percent this year, but room rate increased 2.4 percent from $139 to $142. Overall, this meant rooms yield was up 0.6 percent on 2007.

Liverpool posted a 32.8 percent increase in rooms yield from $96 last year to $128 this year, due to both a 12.6 percent jump in occupancy and an 18 percent increase in room rate.

Birmingham also had a strong summer, thanks to the 24th Birmingham International Jazz festival in July. This gave its hotels a rooms yield increase of 8.9 percent.

This news comes just after the passing of the Olympic Torch to London, which will undoubtedly create plenty of tourist traffic to England.