New figures reveal a return to ‘business as usual’ for UK hotels in September
Hotels across the UK saw a return to 'business as usual' in September after an Olympic-fuelled summer, according to preliminary figures released today by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services. Hotels in London recorded a 0.7% decline in rooms yield to £124.38, compared with £125.31 in September 2011. Occupancy in the capital increased by 0.8% from 87.8% to 88.6%, but this was more than offset by a 1.5% drop in room rate to £140.46 from £142.
In the regions, rooms yield reduced by 1.3% from £50.96 to £50.32. Room rate rose by 0.6% from £63.91 to £64.29 and occupancy fell by 1.8% to 78.3%, compared with 79.7% this time last year.
Govinda Singh, Director for Hotel & Hospitality Consultancy Services at PKF, commented: "After an especially challenging July and a spectacularly successful August, hotels across the country experienced something approaching a return to normality during September.
"It's always disappointing to see a decline in rooms yield but the reduction has been well managed and the absolute levels of both room rate and occupancy remain healthy given the prevailing economic environment. There is no reason for alarm bells to start ringing.
"As expected, we're not seeing any evidence of a post-Olympic hangover in the London hotel sector, and the city's hotel operators will be cautiously optimistic about the rest of the year.
"In the regions, hotels remain reliant on the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market, and that doesn't appear to be showing any signs of improving in the short term. Regional operators are likely to experience a challenging autumn, but they've got the expertise and experience to manage the pressures that they're facing."