Scots hotels check in with best figures in the UK

SCOTLAND'S hotels retained occupancy levels better than those in other parts of the UK during 2009, with Edinburgh in particular putting in a strong performance, new research has revealed.

Despite being one of the worst years in recent history for the global hospitality industry, hotels north of the Border recorded just a 1.6 per cent decline in occupancy during the 12-month period. Rooms yield – the measure of the average rate achieved across all occupied rooms – fell 5.6 per cent.

The occupancy figure compares favourably against the decline of 4.8 per cent for all UK regions, while the 12.4 per cent decline in regional rooms yield was considerably heftier than in Scotland.

Once again, Edinburgh was the top performer among the three major Scottish cities, benefiting from its appeal among a cross-section of travellers. The capital's hotels recorded a 2.1 per cent increase in occupancy to 77.9 per cent, giving it the highest rate of anywhere outside London.

The figures from accountancy firm PKF, which carries out regular surveys across the sector, showed Aberdeen and Glasgow did not fare as well during 2009.

Depressed by low levels of activity in the oil and gas sector, occupancy levels in Aberdonian hotels fell by 9.6 per cent, while rooms yield slid 8.3 per cent. Glasgow, whose fortunes are closely linked to activity in the corporate and retail sectors, posted a 3.2 per cent decline in occupancy and a 7.9 per cent decline in rooms yield.

Alastair Rae, partner in real estate and hospitality at PKF, said the figures on Scottish hotels revealed a "mixed bag" of fortunes across the sector. He said: "Maintaining occupancy levels appears to have been achieved with only a slight reduction in rooms yield, which bodes well."