Peel Hotels executive chairman Robert Peel told conference delegates that agents and operators were vitally important to hoteliers.
In an interview on stage with moderator Frank Bough, Peel said:”We need them to help us succeed. Without them we are dead.”
Peel cited the Imperial Hotel group’s attitude as a perfect example of how operators and hoteliers can work well together. “The Imperial has been fair to operators. It did not put prices up massively during a boom because it knows it needs to work with operators during a lean period.”
Peel also said disabled facilities in hotels could provide a decent return. “Hotels may find it is worth putting two, three or five rooms in with disabled facilities. Also, we have a growing elderly population and amenities in a disabled room will be useful for the elderly.”