Swindon hotels fight back despite drop in occupancy

November 18, 2008
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The Swindon hotel sector experienced an indifferent September according to the latest set of figures from PKF Hotel Consultancy Services. Despite the soggy weather throughout August and September which practically washed away the summer, the latest information will help boost confidence in what has been a very turbulent and challenging economic year.

In comparison to the same period last year occupancy levels were down 2.6 per cent from 76.4 per cent in 2007 to 74.4 per cent in 2008.

However, despite this drop, both average room rate and rooms yield increased. Room rate was up 5.2 per cent from £61.88 in 2007 to £65.11 in 2008, while rooms yield was up 2.5 per cent from £47.25 in 2007 to £48.44 in 2008.

Nick Buxton, partner at PKF said: “Swindon hotel managers must be commended for maintaining such encouraging room rates despite a fall in occupancy. It demonstrates excellent management skills by those in charge.

“It is also good news when you consider that over the past few months the Swindon hotel sector had taken a bit of a battering so it’s good to see the situation improve slightly. Let’s hope that with the main summer holidays out of the way the October figures continue to show improvement as more business people book rooms for meetings and conferences.”

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