Hotel Trends
Keep up to date with all trends impacting the UK hotel market, including the latest data and statistics on hotel occupancy rates, RevPAR and performance forecasts. You’ll also find key insight on hotel trends to attract guests and grow business.
Jurys Inn meetings business secures AIM accreditation for all UK venues
Jurys Inn has become the first international hotel group to secure AIM accreditation from the Meetings Industry Association (MIA) for all its UK venues and is the latest hotel operator to announce its ambitions in the meetings sector.
Merseyside hotel doubles capacity using renewable energy specialist
Merseyside's Mere Brook House Hotel, near Thornton Hough in the Wirral, has opened a new cottage conversion with a design aided by a renewable energy specialist; doubling the capacity of the venue.
Dedicated hotel insurance solution launched by Cooke & Mason
The commercial insurance specialists Cooke & Mason has launched Hotelcover, a new insurance and risk management solution designed specifically for hotels and the leisure industry.
Village Hotels expands with luxury room launch as De Vere Group disposes hotels
De Vere Group has announced it has disposed of two hotels with plans to sell two more to fund development of its brands including De Vere Village Hotels where Robert Cook has launched a new luxury room type; 'Upper Deck'.
PLANET 21: Accor launches global strategy for sustainability
The world’s largest hotel operator, Accor, has today launched a comprehensive sustainability programme as part of its bid to reduce CO2 emissions by 10 per cent by 2015.
Good news for hotels as domestic trips on the up
Hoteliers across the country will welcome the news that domestic trips and holidays have increased for the third consecutive year to record levels, with total spend also on the up.
Budget 2012: The hotel industry's reaction
While one or two measures announced in today’s budget have been welcomed by the UK hotel industry, Chancellor George Osborne has left many businesses in the dark and avoided a number of major issues hampering the sector.
Hotels in Glasgow see 200% surge in bookings
Hotel bookings in Glasgow have increased by 200 per cent in the past four years, second only to London in the most popular list of shopping destination cities.
February hotel prices plummet, London continues to buck the trend
Hotel prices have dropped across every city in the UK apart from London, which is one of only seven major cities in Europe to have seen an increase in room rates for February.
UK hotel transactions on the up
The number of European hotel transactions has risen by nine per cent since 2010 and the UK remains the most active investment market of them all, with total transaction volume of €2.7 billion.
Business Outlook 2012: What’s in store for hospitality?
Restaurants, hotels and pubs had mixed fortunes in 2011, with all three hospitality sectors suffering a decline in property prices. But there is hope on the horizon, with the potential for an increase in opportunities and transactions in 2012.
Premier Inn launches free Wi-Fi service across all hotels
Premier Inn, the UK’s largest budget hotel chain, has today launched a free Wi-fi service across all of its properties, offering customers up to half an hour of unlimited connectivity.
Travelodge: 2011 review and 2012 outlook
Following a year which saw Travelodge develop its Metrolodge strategy as well as securing deals with pubs and supermarkets, the budget hotel chain has added a further 146 new UK locations to its target requirements list for 2012.
UK hotel prices surge by up to 200% for New Year’s weekend
Hotels across the UK are ramping up their tariffs over the New Year’s weekend, with Edinburgh hotels charging almost three times more for a one-night stay in a standard double room.
BHA annual report reveals challenging year for hotels - could 2012 be the turning point?
The perfect storm of the financial crisis, high rates of VAT and planning delays took its toll on the hotel sector in 2011, with 36 per cent fewer hotel rooms opening than predicted at the start of the year.
Increased marketing is the key to 2012 success for hotels
The majority of hoteliers believe that the sector will realise a sustained upturn in 2012, while 82 per cent believe a hotels most important business priority over the next six months should be to step up its marketing activities.
Hospitality entrepreneurs on the rise
The numbers of young entrepreneurs starting up businesses in the hospitality industry is on the increase, according to a recent report, which defined the sector as ‘vulnerable’ due to short-term operating challenges.
London hotel room prices leap by a third year on year
London hotel prices in November 2011 have risen 33 per cent in the past year to £177 per night, making the UK capital one of the main drivers for European hotel price recovery, online booking service Trivago reported today.
‘Hotel sales to rise in 2012’, says Colliers Hotels head as Yorkshire Dales hotel put on the market
Julian Troup, newly-appointed director of Colliers International’s Hotel Agency team, has predicted a dramatic rise in the number of hotel buyers in the market over the next 12 months.
London hotels bounce back after riots
Following the negative financial effects of the riots in August, London hotels have bounced back in September and are on track for a record-breaking year.
London’s W hotel sold for £200m to overseas investor
The 192-bedroom W London-Leicester Square hotel has been sold for almost £200m in what is one of the most high-profile hotel transactions of the year.
Pet-friendly hotel bookings rise by 132% in past year
Pet-friendly hotels have seen a 132 per cent rise in bookings in the past year, according to hotel bookings and review site LateRooms.com.
UK hotels’ buoyant summer expected to dip in August
UK hoteliers have enjoyed a buoyant summer season so far, underpinned by a continued trend for the staycation, although operators are being warned not to expect the same result for August.
London hotels have ‘shrugged off recession’
London hotels have ‘convincingly shrugged off the recession’, having recorded the 19th consecutive month of year-on-year profitability growth, while provincial hotels also return to growth.
More business failures expected for hospitality SMEs
Small businesses in the hospitality sector should be particularly vigilant of their business strategies over the years ahead, as corporate financial analysts warn that the worst is still to come.
June provincial hotel profitability might not last, warns TRI
June was the 19th profitable month in a row for hoteliers in London, while it was the first profitable month since January for provincial hotels, according to the latest HotStats report from TRI Hospitality.
Hoteliers notice signs of consumers saving money
Hotel and B&B owners around the UK have said that summer business this year has been broadly positive, although they have noted definite signs of consumers saving money.
European hotels trade well as traveller demand grows
Hotels across Europe have seen occupancy and rates increase over the past six months, as business and leisure demand continues to improve, according to recent data from the hotel market consultancy STR.
UK leads in holidays for seniors
The UK is the largest single source of over 55 year-old holidaymakers, a population group that makes up more than a quarter of all holiday travel in Europe.
Hotels: meeting the needs of female travellers
Hotels must develop and focus their services to meet the needs of female business travellers, a growing demographic with very specific travelling needs, reveals a study from the United States.
Important UK cities see hotel rates dip to lowest point this year
In UK cities such as Manchester and Birmingham, hotel prices have fallen to their lowest point since the beginning of the year as visitors prefer beach destinations.
Hospitality execs plan investment as optimism increases
Senior executives in the hospitality sector worldwide are more optimistic than their peers in other industries about the prospects of the economy, with many of them gearing up for growth in their business, according to a new survey by Ernst & Young.
London Bulgari hotel expects ‘no competition’ in luxury market
Marriott and Bulgari have said their designer-brand luxury hotel is on track to open in London’s Knightsbridge early next year, and will not face competition in the contemporary luxury market.
Hoteliers have their work cut out over next year, says PwC
Hotels in the UK have been through a volatile six months, and although revenue is likely to continue growing the landscape ahead will be challenging, said PricewaterhouseCooper (PxC) in its latest report.
Sofitel launches Legend luxury hotel label
The French hotel chain Sofitel this month officially launched its new luxury Legend brand, which forms part of plans to expand its reach in the UK and internationally.
Diners willing to pay more for steak in restaurants and hotels than pubs
Consumers are happy to pay more for a steak in a restaurant or hotel than in a pub, with almost half prepared to fork out up to £17.
Hilton invests in Wi-Fi upgrade across UK hotels
Hilton Worldwide will be upgrading its customer internet access across hotels in the UK, as part of plans to improve its guest services.
London hotels recover from Royal Wedding let-down
Following disappointing trading during the Royal Wedding, profitability in London hotels picked up in May, boosted by a series of sporting, cultural and political events, finds the new HotStats survey.
Waldorf and Hyatt Regency hotels fall into administration
The Waldorf hotel in London's West End and the Hyatt Regency in Birmingham have been put up for sale after their holding companies fell into administration.
Profit decline forecast for provincial hotels in 2011
Hotels across the country have posted a healthy performance in May, but full-year profits are forecast to decline in the provinces as inflation and the VAT rise continue to impact consumer spending.
UK hotel performance: the past, present and future
Delegates at the inaugural Boutique Hotel Summit this week were told to watch their pricing structure for the 2012 London Olympic Games to avoid pricing themselves out of the market.
Learn from Royal Wedding and avoid Olympics price hiking, hoteliers warned
London hoteliers, particularly those in the luxury sector, are being warned to learn from the disappointment of the Royal Wedding trade and avoid ‘pricing themselves out of the market’ for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Learning from abroad: Hotels
Many major hotel trends reach our shores after first taking a hold in international markets. In the second part of this month’s feature, BigHospitality takes a look at the latest concepts that have been emerging in hotels abroad.
Hotel prices are more important than brands, finds survey
Nine out of ten UK travellers say they value the price of a hotel more than its brand, finds a new survey.
Travelodge releases study on futuristic hotel rooms
Hotel rooms of the future will offer guests the ability to customise the walls and surroundings of their rooms to transform them into the venue of their choice, allowing for interactive audio-visual shopping or tourism, according to a futuristic study commissioned by Travelodge.
UK hotels oppose ‘bed tax’ suggestions
The UK hotel industry has again strongly opposed suggestions that it should carry any additional taxes on rooms, amidst moves by some European cities to introduce the levy.
Learning from abroad
With the hospitality industry becoming increasingly competitive, operators should be drawing inspiration from those that are performing ahead of the market in order to run their business more effectively.
Tourists spent £114bn in UK in 2008, says ONS
Domestic and foreign tourists spent a total of £114bn in the UK in 2008, with more money forked out on food than on hotels, according to a new set of experimental data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Royal Wedding boost for hotels was lower than expected
Hotels in London posted strong results for April, but the contribution from the Royal Wedding was far lower than expected, according to new data from TRI Hospitality.
Wimbledon prompts more hotel bookings than last year
Hotels in London have reported a 14 per cent rise in bookings for next months’ Wimbledon Championships compared to last year.
Battlesteads named Considerate Hotel of the Year
Battlesteads hotel and restaurant in Northumberland has been named the Considerate Hotel of the Year 2010/11 for its sustainability initiatives, which include a wood-chip boiler and a vegetable garden with a ‘field to plate’ time of four hours.
UK hotels to house electric car charging stations
Hotels across the UK will be installing electric car charging stations on their premises, with the aim of attracting motorists to use their facilities while cars are charging.
Alcohol prices see record hikes in April as inflation rises
The UK’s latest inflation hike is likely to cause further damage to the hospitality sector, both in terms of sales and staffing, say sector trade groups.
London voted 8th top destination by TripAdvisor travellers
Although London remains a top destination for travellers from around the world, the popular tourist destination has this year been overtaken by cities in South Africa, Australia and South America, according to a new survey by TripAdvisor.
UK hoteliers expect hotel demand to increase in Q2
Hoteliers across the UK say business is looking up, with the majority of general managers expecting an increase in sales of both corporate and leisure hotel stays in the second quarter of this year.
Recent strong hotel performance unlikely to last
The UK hotel industry is continuing to turn around a steady performance despite continuing market pressures, although experts predict the rest of the year will be “less settled” as a result of global issues.
Cost of eating out rising faster than inflation
The cost of eating out in the UK is rising faster than inflation, with an average three-course meal eaten out of home now costing almost £19.
Premier Inn gets £1m bookings from mobile app in three months
Hotel chain Premier Inn says that after just three months of launching a smartphone application it is now seeing over 5 per cent of all hotel bookings made on mobile phones, a figure it expects will double in the near future.
Top four global hotel groups break the 600,000 room barrier
IHG, Hilton, Wyndham and Marriott are the top four global hotel groups based on number of rooms, with all of them operating over 600,000 rooms throughout the world.
Restaurant and hotel spend shoots up in 2011
Consumers are continuing to eat out and sleep out despite the challenging economic times, reveals the latest data.
UK hotel performance improved, but future uncertain
UK hotels saw a significant recovery in 2010 following a challenging environment the year before, but the road ahead remains uncertain, according to an annual hotelier survey from PKF.
German Steigenberger hotel group eyes UK expansion
The German hotel group Steigenberger is looking to expand its luxury and mid-market hotel brands into the UK as part of its wider international growth strategy.
World’s most ethical hotel companies named
Hotel giants Marriott, Rezidor and Wyndham have been named the World’s Most Ethical Hotel companies by a leading international think-tank.
Food most disappointing budget hotel experience, finds survey
The food and drink operation at budget hotels has been named the biggest disappointment when it comes to meeting customer expectations, with many consumers believing it should meet the quality of a midmarket hotel.
BHA backs hoteliers after criticism of Olympics profiteering
The British Hospitality Association (BHA) yesterday refuted claims that the country’s hotels are profiteering by charging higher room rates during the Olympic Games.
London hotels rank 8th most expensive in the world
London hotel prices have increased by 7 per cent over the last year, making the capital the eighth most expensive city to stay in, finds a new study.
UK hotels struggle through fourth annual decline in February
February has been the hardest month for business in hotels outside of London since the bout of bad weather in January last year, according to the latest data from HotStats.
Chain hotel market stabilises, boosted by budget demand
The Accor hotel group is by far the market leader in the European chain hotel sector, although Carlson was the chain to see most growth over the past year, according to the latest data from MKG Hospitality.
UK hotels reveal trends to beat competition in 2011
Most UK hoteliers don’t plan to increase room rates in 2011, but a more competitive landscape is prompting them to invest in renovation, mobile marketing and social media, according to a new survey by TripAdvisor.
Graduate interest in hospitality jobs soars following Michel Roux’s Service
TV show Michel Roux’s Service may have inspired a growth in student and graduate interest in hospitality jobs of almost 200 per cent, signalling a shift in the perception of the industry as a worthwhile career route.
London hotels more popular than New York and Paris
Hotels in London boasted the third highest occupancy levels in the world last year, finishing ahead of those in Hong Kong, New York and Paris.
Budget hotel market most dynamic in industry
The branded budget hotel sector grew at a rate of one hotel a week during 2010, making it the most dynamic segment of the UK hotel industry.
Hotel room rates push up yield, PKF data confirms
An increase in hotel room rate has held up performance in the sector, according to the latest market data from PKF.
‘Non-essential’ hotel spend due to decline, warn asset managers
Hotels throughout the country are expecting to see more growth in their food and beverage offering than in their overall business, but asset managers Vision warn that the landscape ahead is not so rosy for the non-room side of hotel business.
Hotels across UK hit by tough trading in January
Hotels in London were faced with lower demand for their rooms in January, indicating that even the resilience of the capital is impacted by the traditionally tough trading month.
CBI: Consumer service firms continue to struggle
Consumer service firms, such as restaurants and hotels, continued to struggle in the three months to February, as the gap in sentiment between firms that rely on consumer spending and those that benefit from business investment widened during the period.
‘Facebook Factor’ inspires 52% to make travel bookings
A new survey has found that the social networking site Facebook has a powerful influence over people’s holiday plans, with over half of users saying that photos on the site inspire them to travel.
Quarter of UK hoteliers absorb VAT increase, finds survey
A quarter of UK hoteliers have decided not to pass on the VAT increase to their customers, while another 27 per cent are only passing on portion of the rate hike, according to a new HotStats report.
Quarter of operators fail to upsell wines
A quarter of hospitality operators are missing out on potential revenue by failing to encourage their staff to upsell wines, research has found.
London experiencing luxury hotel boom
London is experiencing a luxury hotel boom ahead of the Olympics, new research suggests.
Food Trends 2011: Dining Trends
Vouchers and discounts have meant big business for restaurants over the last year, but with consumers increasingly looking for value in more than just their wallets, and with warnings that vouchers could permanently damage brands, restaurants will need to pay attention to other dining trends in order to fulfil their customers’ desires.
More than 1,400 hotel and leisure failures in 2010
There were more than 1,400 hotel and leisure-related insolvencies last year, according to financial analysis firm Experian.
Food trends 2011: Top ingredients
BigHospitality brings you an exclusive insight into which ingredients will be top of the agenda for some of the UK’s top chefs this year.
Hospitality property prices stabilise as buyer confidence returns
Restaurant, hotel and pub property prices have stabilised over the past year, although the restaurants sector was the only one of the three to show any significant increase in average prices, according to Christie + Co.
Food trends 2011: Popular flavours and food pairings
In the second week of BigHospitality’s food trend feature, some of the country’s top chefs tell us which popular flavours and food pairings they think will be big in 2011.
November trade boost for London and regional hotels
Hotels delivered a steady performance in November 2010, with like-for-like increases in room rate, occupancy and yield across the board.
Personalisation and technology key to future of hotels, finds report
The hotel environment is likely to change drastically over the next ten years and innovation based around each individual customer needs to be at the top of the agenda, according to a new report.
Food trends 2011: Popular cuisines
British diners have become more aware than ever of their expanding waistline and shrinking pockets, shifting their taste for out-of-home dining towards lighter, healthier meals that give value for money.
London hotels add £12 to average room rates
As much of the hospitality industry struggles to keep up revenue streams, hotels in the capital managed to make 2010 a year of growth by charging more for a night’s stay.
Consumers seek attainable luxury in hotels, finds report
A new group of consumers is emerging in the UK which is looking for hotel luxury in small doses as a pick-me-up in the midst of economic gloom.
Special feature: 2011 food trends
Will this be the year Chinese food regains its place in the nation’s hearts? Or will Indian and Mexican cuisine continue to dominate the market?
Review of the Year 2010: The future
With 2010 almost over its time to look ahead to what the future brings. We’ve spoken to some of the industry’s key players to find out what they believe 2011 has in store for them and the industry, and look forward to the major openings hitting the UK.
Review of the Year 2010: Hotels
As 2010 draws to a close, we take a look back at how the hotel sector has evolved in the past 12 months.
British tourism set to rise in 2011
Britain is on target to attract 300,000 more visitors next year as confidence amongst overseas travellers returns.
Eating out is top activity of tourists to Britain, finds report
Eating out in restaurants when visiting Britain has been flagged up as the top priority of most holiday-makers to the country, according to a new study published by VisitBritain.
White Christmas could be “disastrous” for hospitality
Hospitality businesses are expected to suffer over the next few weeks, as a second wave of freezing weather hits the UK in the run-up to Christmas.
Hospitality SMEs living ‘on the breadline’, finds study
Small and medium-sized businesses in the hospitality sector are struggling to make ends meet, with many having no cash flow flexibility to cope in case of emergency, finds a new study.