Budget chains see popularity rise

Budget chains see popularity rise

UPMARKET brands such as Marriott, Hilton and Accor are facing competition from budget hotels, according to a new survey.

In its quarterly European Corporate Travel Index, American Express claims the popularity of no-frills accommodation offered by brands including Choice Hotel’s Sleep Inns and Whitbread’s Travel Inns has pushed room rates up by as much as 33.4% quarter on quarter across Europe.

However, published room prices at four and five-star properties remained static, the report claims, with average room-rate increases of between 0% and 3%.

UK budget room rates, meanwhile, increased between 1.5% and 3.5% on average over the past four months.