Events linked to marking 100 years since the start of the First World War have increased hotel occupancy in November, according to preliminary figures released by business advisory and accountancy firm BDO.
Hotels in the UK regions experienced a 4% increase in occupancy to 75.7% and saw room rates increase by 7.3% year-on-year, to £60.82. For the second month in a row, growth in rooms yield was in the double digits at 11.6%.
Room rates at London hotels increased by 4% to £125.51 in November. Occupancy was up by 3.6% to 86.2% and rooms yield increased to £108.17 – a 7.7% rise on the same time last year.
High occupancy
With remembrance events taking place all across the UK to mark the centenary of World War I, combined with the annual corporate demand, UK hoteliers found that occupancy was much higher than usual in November.
Robert Barnard, partner at BDO LLP, comments:
“Milestones such as the centenary of the First World War have such a profound impact on the UK population – thousands turned out for ceremonies in London and across the regions. This year, unlike previous years, remembrance events took place throughout the month of November and, as a result, hoteliers across the UK saw high occupancy.”
Preliminary data for November 2014
| Rooms department | 2014 | 2013 | % change |
| UK Regional hotels | |||
| Average daily room rate per occupied room | £60.82 | £56.66 | 7.3% |
| Average daily room occupancy | 75.7% | 72.8% | 4% |
| Average daily rooms yield per available room | £46.03 | £41.26 | 11.6% |
| Approximate number of rooms per day | 87,900 | 87,750 | |
| London hotels | |||
| Average daily room rate per occupied room | £125.51 | £120.69 | 4% |
| Average daily room occupancy | 86.2% | 83.2% | 3.6% |
| Average daily rooms yield per available room | £108.17 | £100.42 | 7.7% |
| Approximate number of rooms per day | 29,900 | 30,050 |
Final data for October 2014
| Rooms department | 2014 | 2013 | % change |
| UK Regional hotels | |||
| Average daily room rate per occupied room | £59.95 | £56.56 | 6% |
| Average daily room occupancy | 80.4% | 77.2% | 4.1% |
| Average daily rooms yield per available room | £48.17 | £43.70 | 10.2% |
| Approximate number of rooms per day | 98,400 | ||
| London hotels | |||
| Average daily room rate per occupied room | £129.79 | £127.78 | 1.6% |
| Average daily room occupancy | 88.3% | 87.1% | 1.4% |
| Average daily rooms yield per available room | £114.60 | £111.31 | 3% |
| Approximate number of rooms per day | 33,250 |
BDO’s hotel trends surveys feature a broad range of hotels across the country although mainly in the 3 – 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 –5 star categor ies.
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