THE UK’s hotel building boom is continuing unabated, a new British Hospitality Association report has revealed.
The British Hospitality: Trends and Statistics 2006 report predicts that in the 15 months preceding the end of the year, more than 10,000 rooms in 120 hotels will have been newly built, costing £1.25 billion.
The figures are similar to the previous period and continue the concerted expansion which started five years ago. Of the current new-builds, nearly half will be in the budget category while 25 smaller new boutique hotels continue to drive this sector.
Chief executive Bob Cotton said: “This level of investment does more to raise standards and improve quality than all the government regulations put together.
“Future plans indicate that a slow-down may be on the horizon but it’s not clear how big a boost the 2012 Olympic Games will give to new hotel construction nearer the time.”
He added a further £3 billion being spent on refurbishment, up-grading and extensions is also helping drive the UK hotel sector.