Hospitality Today Christmas 2016 - Jan 2017 | Page 25

hospitalitytoday . com | 25
The data also shows that the average daily rate ( ADR ) for hotel rooms in the UK stood at £ 113 , a slight rise of + 1.6 % on the previous year . Hotels in the majority of cities across the UK experienced an uplift in ADR , with the biggest increases coming from hotels in Liverpool , Belfast , Bournemouth and Manchester .
“ The UK has so far successfully weathered the Brexit blast and shown continued growth ,” said Change founder and director , Craig Allen . “ We predict that this is likely to continue into 2017 . From a recruitment perspective , we anticipate that the market will remain positive but difficult , with a shortage of talent in many key roles . While this would become much harder if there is to be a hard Brexit , our prediction is that the government will steer a more moderate course , and that we will continue to see a strong influx of employees from the EU .
“ While 2017 will be governed by uncertainty , and there are many economic factors working against the hospitality sector , there are also several positive factors which will enable the industry overall to thrive .”
UK hotels say post-Brexit vote bounce
Hotels across the UK enjoyed increased visitor numbers off the back of the Brexit vote , according to the latest July-September data from the Expedia group .
The regional powerhouses of Manchester , Birmingham , and Leeds all recorded a year-on-year increase in travel demand of more than 20 %, with Bournemouth (+ 25 %) and Brighton (+ 20 %) also seeing a healthy upturn . Glasgow (+ 25 %) and Edinburgh (+ 16 %) also recorded strong growth .
Julie Cheneau , Expedia ’ s director of market management for the UK & Ireland , said : “ Overall our hotel partners enjoyed a strong quarter with those across a number of regional cities and seaside destinations enjoying impressive growth compared to the same period last year .
“ Demand from certain key international markets spiked following the Brexit result , likely due to a range of factors including a weaker pound but also because the UK summertime is popular with international guests .”
London bed supply moves East
Kensington and Chelsea , with 14,702 hotel rooms in 183 hotels , has almost reached full capacity when it comes to hotel development , with only 30 new bedrooms expected to be built in the borough before 2019 , according to Colliers International ’ s latest London Hotel Index .
Colin Hall of Colliers International explains : “ It ’ s been near impossible for hotel investors and developers to find the space to create new hotels in Kensington and Chelsea . The residential market has remained extremely strong over the past few years , keeping prices high and supply low , and the grand period houses that make up much of the property stock in the area is difficult to convert .
“ Hotels in Westminster , The City and Kensington & Chelsea recorded the highest Average Daily Rates ( ADR ) respectively (£ 211 , £ 153 and £ 148 ).