Gloomy hoteliers hope for bank holiday boon
BUSINESS was slow for hoteliers across the region in March, according to new figures.
Data from PKF Hotel Consultancy Services showed average year-on-year room rates slipped in Liverpool, Manchester and Blackpool.
Occupancy levels and rooms yield, or revenue per available room (REVPAR), also fell across the board with only Chester enjoying an increase in room rates, up 1.2% to £61.33.
Jane Jackson, partner at PKF, said: “It is disappointing to see this knock back in the recovery of the hotel market, but given the continued economic plight it is unsurprising. The region’s hotels are dependent on the pick-up of the MICE (meetings, incentive, convention, and exhibition) and corporate markets, which has been slow.
“However, we may see a bit of a boost in the April figures thanks to a combination of school holidays and two long bank holiday weekends, with people making the most of the extra time off.”
In Manchester, room rate decreased 0.2% to £75.30 while room occupancy fell by 0.7% to 75.1%. Overall, the city saw REVPAR – calculated by multiplying occupancy by the average achieved room rate – fell 0.9% to £56.55.
In Liverpool room rate decreased 5.5% to £67.40 and occupancy rates fell 4.3% to 68.2%. There was a 9.6% drop in REVPAR to £45.97. Chester saw room occupancy fall 3.4% to 63.4% while REVPAR dropped 2.2% to £38.88. In Blackpool the room rate was down 1% to £58.55 and room occupancy fell 5.7% to 60% while REVPAR fell 6.6% to £35.13.
