London Hotels: Strong Hotel Performance in 2011
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London hotels enjoyed a stellar 2011 while their counterparts in the regions just about held their own over the course of the year, according to hotel figures released today by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services.
Looking specifically at December, hotels in the capital saw room rate rise by 0.2% from £134.93 in December 2010 to £135.23 in December 2011, whilst occupancy increased by 1.0% from 75.0% to 75.8%. This resulted in rooms yield growth of 1.2% to £102.56 in December 2011, up from £101.30 for the same month in 2010. Regional hotels posted a 3.0% rise in occupancy to 59.9% in December 2011 and a 5.6% drop in room rate from £61.70 to £58.26. Rooms yield consequently fell 2.7% to £34.88, compared with £35.85 twelve months ago.
For the year as a whole, rooms yield in London reached £115.94, 6.3% higher than the in 2010. This was driven by a 6.7% rise in room rate from £131.36 to £140.09, which more than offset a 0.3% dip in occupancy from 83.0% to 82.8%. In the regions, rooms yield grew by 0.8% to £44.12 on the back of a 1.5% increase in occupancy from 69.7% to 70.8% and a 0.7% fall in room rate to £62.31 from £62.76.
Robert Barnard, partner for Hotel Consultancy Services at PKF, commented: “The performance of London hotels has been exceptionally strong throughout most of the year – a 6.3% increase in rooms yield in such a challenging environment is nothing short of a miracle although it is someway off the 12.1% growth posted in 2010. The headline numbers may have been stronger still had rooms rate growth at the very top end not been dampened by the opening of several flagship hotels [the Savoy, Corinthia and Four Seasons] that increased capacity in this price bracket last year.”
“Occupancy in the capital has dipped slightly but remains at a very high level. Our analysis shows that, if the traditionally quiet months of January and February are excluded, London hotels are at almost 100% occupancy for five nights in every seven. London remains a major draw for both the corporate and the leisure market despite the economic malaise, and hotels are a major beneficiary of its enduring appeal.”
“Elsewhere, performance has been solid, everything considered. Room rates have been squeezed due to continued weakness in the corporate and MICE [meetings, incentives, conferences & exhibitions] markets, which are a vital source of income for regional hotels. The lack of any meaningful new development prevented a more dramatic decline, and also helped occupancy to increase slightly.”
“Looking ahead, we are optimistic that the Olympics will have a positive effect on the performance of London hotels this year, although I suspect the impact won’t be as dramatic as some of the more bullish commentators predict. With occupancy at already very high levels, and with few hoteliers expected to break ranks and hike prices beyond agreed levels, there is scope for a modest increase in rooms yields during July and August. The buzz created by the Games should also help the sector during the rest of the year, much as it did in Beijing in 2008 and in Cape Town around the time of the football World Cup in 2010.”
“Regional hotels, by contrast, will have modest expectations for 2012. Given the economic turbulence, and no sign of any improvement in their core corporate markets, many will be relieved just to hold their own this year.”
“We don’t expect the Diamond Jubilee celebrations to have a significant impact on hotel performance, even in London. The Jubilee, much like last year’s Royal Wedding, will appeal mostly to domestic visitors who are unlikely to stay beyond a day and therefore will not require any overnight accommodation.”
“Longer term, we’re not expecting a post-Olympic slump in the London hotel market. The capital will adapt in order to maintain its appeal in much the same way it always has done. The regeneration of East London – which is as much about new retail and offices as it is about the Olympic site – is just one of a number of new ways in which the city will attract business and leisure visitors over the next few years.”
