Travel & Tourism

The government has pledged to make Britain one of the top five tourist destinations in the world, but is it doing enough to help the hospitality industry achieve that dream? We have rounded up the latest on the big issues affecting tourism - from the campaign to cut tourism VAT to changing visa laws and the rise of the staycation.

Cutting tourism VAT could end UK's £13bn trade deficit

11-May-2016 By Sophie Witts

The British Hospitality Associtaion (BHA) has ramped up calls for the Government to cut the rate of tourism VAT to fix the UK’s increasingly dire trade deficit.

Government spends £700k to bring back British seaside holiday

09-May-2016 By Sophie Witts

Hotels, pubs and restaurants in coastal towns are set to benefit from a £700,000 Government fund to boost seaside tourism.

Election 2016: BHA calls on politicians to scrap hotel 'bed tax'

06-May-2016 By Sophie Witts

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has called on the new Scottish Government to dismiss plans for a controversial ‘bed tax’ on hotels.

Travelodge opens first hotel aimed at Chinese visitors

04-May-2016 By Sophie Witts

Travelodge has opened its first hotel targeted at Chinese tourists in anticipation of a surge of visits from the region.

London no longer most expensive place to stay in Europe

03-May-2016 By Emma Eversham

A 2 per cent drop in the average room rate across London’s hotels in the last year means the capital has lost its status as the ‘most expensive place to stay in Europe’.

Traditional British seaside holiday back in fashion finds Travelodge survey

25-Apr-2016 By Emma Eversham

Hotels, restaurants and pubs in the UK's coastal locations are set to cash-in this summer as more Brits than ever are planning to spend their summer holiday or take a mini-break at a seaside resort.

Tourist visits to the UK reach all-time high

22-Apr-2016 By Sophie Witts

Britain could be set for another bumper year of tourism after visitor numbers in February broke all previous records.

TRAVEL TRENDS

Staycations increase as overseas safety fears rise

19-Apr-2016 By Emma Eversham

The number of short breaks Brits intend to take within the UK is set to increase this year as worries about personal safety overseas curb appetites for holidays abroad.

TripAdvisor reviews generate £2bn a year in hospitality spending

15-Apr-2016 By Sophie Witts

TripAdvisor reviews generated £2bn in visitor spending in the UK in 2014 alone and sustained 55,000 jobs, according to a study by Oxford Economics.

Tap into 'daycation' trend to maximise occupancy, hoteliers told

14-Apr-2016 By Emma Eversham

Hotels in the UK could be experiencing occupancy levels of more than 100 per cent by providing guests the chance to have a ‘daycation’ in their property, according to online platform Dayuse.com.

Sandals opens first hotel store in London

04-Apr-2016 By Emma Eversham

Unique Vacations Ltd, the company behind Caribbean resorts Sandals, Beaches and Grand Pineapple, has opened the UK's first high street store dedicated to a hotel brand.