Hotels in the capital experienced a very healthy July with significant growth in both room rate and occupancy, according to preliminary monthly figures released by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services. Hotels across the rest of the country maintained steady growth.
In London, figures were buoyed by visitors travelling to the summer events hosted by the capital such as The Proms, the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and the summer opening of Buckingham Palace.
The Farnborough Airshow is likely to have had the largest impact however and, as a result, occupancy jumped 2.0% on the same period last year from 86.5% to 88.3%. Room rate increased even more sharply from £140.38 to £162.33 - a percentage increase of 15.6% - and overall rooms yield increased by a substantial 18.0%, from £121.45 to £143.26.
In the regions, occupancy was down slightly from 77.2% in 2007 to 75.9% this year, but room rate increased 2.4% from £75.18 to £77.00. Overall, this meant rooms yield was up 0.6% on 2007.
European Capital of Culture Liverpool continues to draw in the crowds and this month posted a massive 32.8% increase in rooms yield from £52.22 last year to £69.37 this year. This was a combination of a 12.6% jump in occupancy and an 18.0% increase in room rate.
