City hotel occupancy rose last year
HOTEL occupancy levels in Greater Manchester and the city centre rose last year, according to new figures.
Driven by business tourism as well as leisure visits, research by Visit Manchester, the tourist board, reveals average hotel occupancy in the city centre for 2010 was 71%, up from 68% in 2009.
Across Greater Manchester, the average occupancy level was 69%, up from 67% in 2009.
During the year capacity in and around the city centre increased with the opening of the 147-bedroom Holiday Inn Express on Oxford Road, the 218-bedroom Holiday Inn Express at MediaCityUK, and Stay Inn Manchester,on Blackfriars Road, Salford, which has 84 serviced apartments.
Paul Simpson, managing director of Visit Manchester, said: “This is a positive sign for Manchester’s tourism industry and in particular, our city centre weekday occupancy figures imply that 2010 was a popular year for business tourism.
“Looking ahead, we’re hopeful that 2011 will continue this success in terms of hotel occupancy levels.
“The legacy of hosting events such as the recent ABPCO (Association of British Professional Conference Organisers) conference should have an impact on future bookings in the city and we also have the return of Manchester International Festival this summer, which will no doubt boost the city’s leisure visitors.”
Visit Manchester’s analysis is based on research provided by the STR Global Occupany tool.
