Summer success continues for North West hotels

HOTELS across the North West reported strong occupancy figures for August, despite rioting in Liverpool and Manchester.

Occupancy in Manchester increased by 6.9% compared with the same month last year and a 0.8% rise in room rate to £62.90 meant that rooms yield increased 7.7% to £43.46.

In Liverpool, although occupancy fell by 1.2% to 74.1%, the city benefited from a 4.1% rise in room rate to £59.20. This resulted in a rooms yield of £42.27, a 2.8% increase on £41.12 in 2010.

In Blackpool occupancy levels were a very healthy 87.6%, a 5.4% rise from August 2010. Despite a 0.3% drop in room rate to £60.67 from £60.86, the town’s hotels achieved a 5% increase in rooms yield to £53.15.

Chester also benefitted from high occupancy levels of 80.8%, a 2.2% year-on-year improvement. When combined with a 10.1% increase in room rate to £61.78, this resulted in a rooms yield of £49.92, a 12.5% rise from £44.37.

Jane Jackson, partner at accountancy firm PKF, which compiled the figures, said: “August is an enormously important month for the hospitality sector, so it is encouraging to note that hotels in the region posted some of their best results to date.

“The data suggest that, despite the dismal weather and civil unrest, families decided to spend the summer season in the UK as they continue to grapple with an uncertain economic outlook and unfavourable exchange rates. The popularity of the ‘staycation’ has endured for another year and, given the lack of any meaningful economic recovery, it is hard to see anything but a continuation of this trend in summer 2012.”