Bookings surge for city hotel undergoing £16m refurb
The Queens Hotel Leeds, which is currently undergoing a £16m refurbishment, has reported a 260% increase in event enquiries last month, with bookings up 103% compared to March 2020.
The prominent city centre venue says the figures are an encouraging sign as Covid-19 restrictions look set to ease further next month.
In step three of the Government’s plan for England, which will begin no earlier than 17 May, some large events including conferences will be permitted with limits on attendance, set using total attendance levels or percentages of a venue’s capacity, whichever is lower to apply.
Controlled indoor events will be permitted up to a limit of 1,000 people or 50% of a venue’s capacity.
The Queens Hotel Leeds says it has received requests from a broad range of industries including; charities, training companies, associations and construction companies, with events ranging from gala dinners and launches to corporate conferences.
Sarah Harvey, head of event sales & business development at The QHotels Group, said: “It is widely reported that the pandemic has been dire for the events and hospitality industry but with a clear plan now in place for the gradual return of events, we’ve started to see a flurry of enquires.
“We predict this will continue to strengthen, with corporate customers keen to reinstate annual events as well as bring to life new ideas that have been born in lockdown.
“Since the Government roadmap announcement, we have taken almost £600,000 in booking value for meetings, conferences and events, compared to £164,000 in February.
“Our enquiries were up 260% last month and with people keen to see the results of the huge transformation of the hotel this is only adding to the excitement of the return of events.
“This is a huge boost to The Queens Hotel, but also for the Leeds hospitality sector and the city in general.”
The updated hotel’s full refurbishment will be unveiled this summer and includes a refresh and upgrade of all 15 meeting rooms including the restoration of hidden treasures such as original flooring.
The hotel is also home to the 500 capacity Queens Ballroom, one of the city’s largest meeting and event spaces.
With plans for a “social hub” at the heart of the building, the transformed ground floor will offer a number of communal areas, as well as a personal check-in area.
