August was a healthy month for many hoteliers across the UK, according to preliminary monthly figures released today by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services.

In London, room rate, occupancy and rooms yield all increased compared to the same time last year. Room rate was up 3.8% from £99.74 in August 2009 to £103.49 in the same month this year. Occupancy was also up, by 0.2%, from 81.6% last year to 81.9% this year. Overall, rooms yield was up 4.0% from £81.46 to £84.71.

In the regions, there was equally positive news with room rate, occupancy and rooms yield also all increasing compared to August 2009. Room rate saw a small increase of 0.1% from £59.85 to £59.92, occupancy was up 2.6% from 71.5% to 73.5% and rooms yield increased 2.7% from £42.85 to £44.01. 

Looking at individual regional cities, there were some mixed results. Manchester crept ahead on the same time last year with a 1.4% rise in room rate to £65.37, a 0.3% increase in occupancy and a 1.7% rise in rooms yield from £42.36 in 2009 to £43.09 this year.

Liverpool’s figures moved in the opposite direction as the city posted less favourable data compared to the same time in 2009. Room rate was down 7.4% from £56.25 to £52.08, occupancy was also down, by 1.5%, and rooms yield therefore decreased by 8.8% to £37.22.

Edinburgh had a mostly good festival month, but did lose some bookings from the previous year. Room rate was up 5.5% to £119.00, but occupancy was down 2.7% to 89.0%. Rooms yield was up by 2.7% however.

Robert Barnard, partner for Hotel Consultancy Services at PKF, commented, “The figures for August suggest demand continues to strengthen compared to 2009 and therefore the outlook is more positive as a result.

“However, as mentioned last month the spending review in October could affect business travel again. Hoteliers are at least in a slightly stronger position than earlier in the year so if there are any after effects, we will hopefully find they are not felt too strongly.”