Liverpool bucks downward hotels trend

LIVERPOOL bucked a generally downward hotel occupancy trend in the North West in May, according to new research.

The city saw a 3.6% increase in occupancy levels to 71.7%, which room rates also rose by 2% to £65.10.

Chester also witnessed a (slightly weaker) occupancy increase by 1.3% to 67.5%, while room rates edged up by 0.9% to £64.65.

Blackpool, meanwhile, saw occpancy levels fall by 4.3% to 63.6% and Manchester by 1.4% to 77%. Room rates in Blackpool increased by 3.7% to £55.21 but fell in Manchester by 2.4% to £71.70.

Mark Sykes, partner at PKF, said: “The year-on-year results are always very dependent upon the events, conferences and even weather that occur at that point in time.

“Cities have to work hard in attracting visitors and no month is the same from one year to the next.”