HBAA chairman urges hotels not to spark ‘discounting war’

HBAA chairman urges hotels not to spark ‘discounting war'

THE HOTEL Booking Agents Association is urging hotels to work together on a survival strategy for the future.

HBAA chairman Charles Cockell pleaded with individual hotels not to slash rates and spark a discounting war and urged them to work together to win back business.

He said: "The big danger is certain groups or individual hotels will lower their rates and this will have a negative effect on the industry as a whole. "

Cockell also suggested ways to replace bookings from overseas guests including targeting domestic guests and promoting conferences.

He said: "If we can get UK companies to hold their conferences here rather than abroad, we can get business back into the hotels. Short breaks is another area to look at.”