Leeds aparthotel brand welcomes Brexit tourism boost

The decision to leave Europe has seen growth in the UK’s tourism industry, with more British holidaymakers seeking out low cost UK city breaks and an increase in international tourists coming to visit.

UK Aparthotel brand Roomzzz, which has hotels in Leeds, has reported a 17% increase in bookings post-Brexit, and says the falling value of the pound is responsible for the growing trend towards the ‘staycation’.

COO of Roomzzz Aparthotels Mark Walton said: “This has encouraged more UK residents to look at city breaks at home, rather than abroad. Equally, we’ve experienced an increase in bookings from international tourists who are capitalising on their favourable exchange rates and visiting UK cities.”

As a result of the shift towards the staycation, Roomzzz is expanding further into the UK hotel market, opening aparthotels in Manchester, Newcastle, York, Harrogate as well as launching its first London site.

“The real sign of confidence is that we’re opening in markets we’re already in, we’re opening a second one in Manchester as those markets aren’t exhausted yet,” Mark added.

Two thirds of the UK’s visitors come from European countries and there has also been a reported increase in international tourists visiting the UK, which is said to have contributed to a 7% in spending in summer 2016.

“To be fair the weather’s been kind as well, even in the winter months, it’s been quite kind and I think that’s had a knock on effect. The UK hotel market’s become a lot more consistent, whereas for our European neighbours – hospitality is just what they do. And now as a result, everybody’s upped their game.”

Mark also believes Trump’s presidency will drive holidaymakers away from traditional holidays to places like Florida and into Britain’s “sensible and calm” cities.

“Everyone’s cautious now, everyone’s looking inwards rather than outwards because there’s a lot of negatives, the world doesn’t know what it’s doing, Europe doesn’t know what it’s doing, we don’t know what it’s doing, from a domestic hotel market its probably strengthening us,” Mark added.