HOSPITALITY IN BRIEF


Half-year profits up at Peel Hotels Peel Hotels, which operates


nine four-star, regional hotels in the UK, has reported a 33 per cent increase in first half pre-tax profits. Reporting its results for the 28 weeks to 22 August, the company saw its turnover increase by 15.1 per cent which it attributed to an increase in inbound tourists and the effect of 'staycationing'. The company also announced that it is reviewing its non-hotel assets with a view to disposal and is currently marketing two properties: one in Newcastle and one in Wallingford, Oxfordshire.


Côte unveils plans to open first Welsh site Côte, the restaurant chain


co-founded by entrepreneur Richard Caring and a group of former directors of the Strada chain in 2007, is to open a new site in Cardiff. The 3,747sq ft (348 sq m) restaurant will be Côte's 16th in the UK and sited at the Mermaid Quay mixed-use development in Cardiff Bay, which is owned by Schroder Exempt Property Unit Trust and Sovereign Land. Côte's will be the first of three new restaurants to open at Mermaid Quay.


Whitbread plans to create 1,500 new jobs Whitbread has confirmed its


intention to create more than 1,500 'customer-facing' jobs this year as it reported like-for-like sales growth for the half year to 2 September. The hotel and restaurant operator said more than 2,000 qualifications have been achieved by its employees through its apprenticeships and skills for life programmes. For the six months to 2 September, Whitbread saw revenue increase by 14.5 per cent and underlying profit before tax grow by 28.4 per cent to nearly £152m.


8


news & jobs at www.leisureopportunities.co.uk Two studies outline sector's 'potential'


New BHA reports highlight contribution to UK's economy and employment market By Pete Hayman


Two reports from the British Hospitality Association (BHA) have highlighted the economic importance and potential of the hospitality sector in the UK. One study – produced by


Oxford Economics – found that the sector is currently the UK's fifth largest employer and generates an estimated £34bn in gross tax revenue. More than 2.4 million people


are directly employed within the sector, in addition to 1.2 million indirectly, according to the report. The core hospitality economy is believed to have a turnover of £90bn. Oxford Economics has


forecast that the hospitality economy is set to employ 2.66 million direct workers by 2015


UK 'most active' hotel market


The hotel investment market in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region has demonstrated strong growth in the first three quarters of 2010, with the UK described as the most active of all countries. Total investment in the


region during the nine months to 30 September hit E3.97bn (£3.47bn, US$5.49bn) – a 55 per cent increase on 2009. The figures, from Jones


Lang LaSalle, also show the UK to be the most active market this year, with more than E1bn (£0.87bn, US$3.87bn) of investment transacted, followed by France with around E505m (£441m, US$698m) invested.


UK operators have enjoyed another strong monthly performance By Tom Walker


Hoteliers across the UK have enjoyed a strong September with increases in room rate, occupancy and room yield. According to monthly figures


from PKF Hotel Consultancy Services, London hotels have performed particularly well. In the capital, hotel operators


reported fairly robust perfor- mance. Room rate increased by


Read Leisure Opportunities online www.leisureopportunities.com/digital


12.5 per cent to £133.37, when compared with £118.56 for the same period last year. Occupancy increased 4.7 per


cent from 85.0 per cent to 89.1 per cent while room yield increased by 17.8 per cent to £118.80 from £100.89. Outside London, hotels saw a


decrease in room rate despite a 5.9 per cent increase in occupancy rates (from 73.3 per cent to 77.7 per cent).


© Cybertrek 2010


The studies suggest 236,000 new jobs could be created by 2015


under a trend scenario – a net increase of 236,000 jobs. Meanwhile, an internal study


has reinforced the industry's bid and potential to create a further 236,000 jobs in the next four years, although raised concerns over the threat of global competition.


In Creating Jobs in Britain - a


Hospitality Economy Proposi- tion, the BHA has urged the government to ensure Britain is a "world-class" destination for tourism through the creation of a new cross-cabinet committee on tourism and hospitality to co-ordinate policy.


Strong September for UK hotels


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