London hotels on the up
London hoteliers have had an optimistic start to the summer following a positive performance in May.
Hotel occupancy rates were up to nearly 77% in May, up from 74.5% last year according to hotel consultants, PKF. More crucially the occupancy rates were up from 2002 – pre the war in Iraq and Sars – when occupancy was at 74.5%.
The downside was that rates have failed to catch up. Average room rates were £103 in London last month, up 9% from last year, but still down on 2002 when rooms in London were going for an average £107.
Outside London occupancy rates were up 4% to 73% and room rates also increased 4% to around £64.55. This is also up on 2002 when occupancy was 71% and rates £64.
Hotel consultancy services director at PKF Robert Barnard, said: “These positive figures do not tell the full story – with London only just catching up to 2002 levels in occupancy and yet to return to 2002’s performance for both room rate and rooms yield. Clearly the capital’s hoteliers still have some work to do to win back the ground lost as a result of last year’s war and problems such as the threat of SARS.”
Report by Ginny McGrath
Ginny McGrath
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers