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Heatwave boosts London Hotel bookings

HOTELS in London and the UK had their best month in June since the Millennium celebrations of 2000, as sizzling summer temperatures helped boost visitor numbers.


The latest figures from PKF hotel consultancy have revealed room yields in the capital were 11.5% higher than in June 2005, up from £96.02 to £107.08, fuelled by a 6.2% rise in occupancy to 86.7%.


In the regions the increase was less marked but a 1% rise in room rate, a 1.3% rise in occupancy taking it to 76.5%, and a 2.3% increase in yield per room up to £54.59 ensured June was the best month since 2000.


PKF partner for hotel consultancy Robert Barnard said: “The June figures continue to reflect the strength and dynamism of the UK hotel market as a whole, and the dominance of London as a world-leading centre of business and tourism.


“A year on from the tragedy of the London bombings, after which hotel occupancy figures plunged, the comeback clearly demonstrates both the resilience of hoteliers and the timeless appeal of the capital as a global destination.”


The PKF figures also reveal the number of overseas visitors from outside the traditional European, US and Japanese markets now account for one in four visitors to London hotels, a 15.8% increase on June 2005.


Accor UK managing director Jean-Jacques Dessors said London recovered remarkably quickly from last July’s terrorist attacks on the Underground.


“Speaking to colleagues in Spain, they said it took Madrid six months to recover we suffered for just two or three months.


“As a Frenchman I was proud of the British public’s reaction and I think this sent out a strong message and helped London recover quickly.”

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