UK hotels enjoyed another strong month in August, according to preliminary figures released today by business advisory and accountancy firm, BDO LLP.
In the regions, a 0.3% year-on-year rise in room rate to £60.43, compared with £60.26 in August 2012, coupled with a 7.2% increase in occupancy from 73.8% to 79.2%, resulted in a 7.5% improvement in rooms yield from £44.53 to £47.87.
In London, occupancy increased by 5.4% to 85.9%, compared with 81.4% a year earlier, but room rate dropped by 15.5% from £147.63 to £124.70. As a result, rooms yield fell by 10.9% from £120.22 to £107.13. However, the August 2012 figures were boosted considerably by the Olympics and Paralympics, which helped the capital’s hotels to enjoy one of their strongest months in decades.
Robert Barnard, partner at BDO LLP, commented: ‘This latest set of strong results suggests that momentum is beginning to build in the UK hotel sector. The industry was badly hit when the economy first hit trouble, and it appears that hotels are among the early beneficiaries of the nascent economic recovery.
‘Hotels in London posted a 44.4% rise in rooms yield this time last year thanks to the Olympics and Paralympics, so a 10.9% decline in August 2013 should be viewed in a very positive light.
‘In the regions, operators are able to increase occupancy by over 7% without having to resort to price cuts, which is an encouraging sign.’
Preliminary data for August 2013
| Rooms department | 2013 | 2012 | % change |
| UK Regional hotels | |||
| Average daily room rate per occupied room | £60.43 | £60.26 | 0.3% |
| Average daily room occupancy | 79.2% | 73.8% | 7.2% |
| Average daily rooms yield per available room | £47.87 | £44.53 | 7.5% |
| Approximate number of rooms per day | 71,700 | ||
| London hotels | |||
| Average daily room rate per occupied room | £124.79 | £147.63 | -15.5% |
| Average daily room occupancy | 85.9% | 81.4% | 5.4% |
| Average daily rooms yield per available room | £107.13 | £120.22 | -10.9% |
| Approximate number of rooms per day | 28,950 |
Final data for July 2013
| Rooms department | 2013 | 2012 | % change |
| UK Regional hotels | |||
| Average daily room rate per occupied room | £138.76 | £160.36 | -13.5% |
| Average daily room occupancy | 87.0% | 79.3% | 9.8% |
| Average daily rooms yield per available room | £120.72 | £127.09 | -5.0% |
| Approximate number of rooms per day | 31,050 | ||
| London hotels | |||
| Average daily room rate per occupied room | £59.78 | £60.89 | -1.8% |
| Average daily room occupancy | 80.2% | 75.0% | 6.9% |
| Average daily rooms yield per available room | £47.91 | £45.68 | 4.9% |
| Approximate number of rooms per day | 81,000 |
BDO’s hotel trends surveys feature a broad range of hotels across the country although mainly in the 3 and 4 star categories and featuring rather more chain operated hotels than those operated independently. While there are a fair number of hotels in country and rural areas, there is a predominance of hotels in towns and cities. In London, supply featured is mainly in the 3 and 5 star categories.