Hotels in Swindon managed to maintain the upper hand during November despite the challenging economic conditions with a tiny 0.2% drop in occupancy to 62.4% in November compared with a year earlier. This was off-set by a 2.7% rise in room rates to £56.37 while room yields were up 2.6% to £35.17.
November was a tough month for British hoteliers, according to PKF Hotel Consultancy Services who compiled the figures. Occupancy levels across the UK were up 1% from 69.7% to 70.4% in November but average room rates fell 2.7% to £61.77 in November 2011 – and this had a negative impact upon room yields which dropped 1.9% to £43.48.
Neil Dimes, partner in charge of the south west office of PKF, said: “When viewed against a backdrop of plunging business and consumer confidence, lacklustre retail sales and the ongoing concerns about the future of the euro, these results suggest that Swindon hoteliers are battling the storms more successfully than many other parts of the economy.
“Let’s be honest, the sector is facing a challenging operating environment that is unlikely to improve significantly anytime in the near future. However, hotel managers appear to have learnt the lessons from 2008-9 and are much better equipped to respond effectively this time around.”
