Hotel room rates fall 13% in UK

ROOM rates in Britain's hotels fell by an average of 13 per cent last year, according to new figures released yesterday.

Edinburgh, which boasts Scotland's highest rates, weathered the worst of the storm, dropping prices by just 6 per cent to an average of 95.

Scotland's capital lagged just three places behind Bath, which had Britain's most expensive rooms at an average rate of 111.

A slump in business tourism and corporate bookings has led to many hotels dropping their rates to try to fill empty rooms. Aberdeen's average rate plummeted by 26 per cent, one of the biggest UK slumps, behind Belfast and Southampton.

However, the drop in room rates means that Britain is now only 13th in the European list of the most expensive countries for hotel rooms.

David Roche, president of Hotels.com, which compiled the survey, said: "Despite some possible first signs of hotel prices recovering in Europe and the US in the last quarter of 2009, the promotions look set to continue for some time yet. 2010 promises to be another great year for the traveller."