Booking figures give lift to hotel sector

HOPES of a recovery in the hospitality industry have been raised by new figures showing improving levels of bookings.

Occupancy in Leeds in May rose from 68.5 per cent to 72.4 per cent. Hoteliers didn't improve their room rates but rooms yield still rose from 45.04 to 46.42. Average room rates in the city were down 2.5 per cent on the same time last year, according to figures released by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services.

Sheffield's occupancy rate shot up from 14.5 percentage points to 73.9 per cent but this was not enough to raise the average room rate, which fell from 63.38 to 52.90. This meant rooms yield was down 4.4 per cent to 39.09.

York also experienced mixed fortunes. Occupancy levels sank from 84.2 per cent to 82.2 per cent but the average room rate inched up from 64.86 in May last year to 65.88. Rooms yield was down 0.8 per cent to 54.15.