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Scottish hoteliers resisting recession
MWB sees drop in
Occupancy levels on the increase as Scottish operators welcome more UK guests
pretax earnings
Marylebone Warwick Balfour By Pete Hayman
(MWB), the hospitality group
behind the Malmaison and Hotel Hotels in Scotland have
du Vin chains, has seen the two reported a 5.3 per cent
brands’ earnings before tax drop increase in occupancy during
from £12.2m to £10.4m. July, despite an overall 4 per
However, their combined cent decline across the UK,
revenue stayed at £52m and a when compared with the same
higher marketing spend led to a period last year.
higher than expected occupancy According to accountancy
rate of 77 per cent. MWB's firm PKF, hotels in Scotland and
group revenue increased from Wales have both benefited
£134.1m to £135.7m. Average from an increase in the number
room rates dropped 12 per cent of Britons opting for 'stayca-
to £102 as a result of the tions' this summer as Scottish Hotels in the capital Edinburgh are among the ones to benefit
economic climate. and Welsh sites saw an 8.6 per
cent and 2.1 per cent increase maintain numbers which is a Scotland are also drawing in the
Roadside dining makes
in RevPAR respectively. positive sign that there is a UK holidaymakers."
the Good Food Guide
Alistair Rae, a partner in the relatively strong demand. However, the strong growth
The Little Chef on the A303 at real estate and hospitality "Overseas visitors have been reported in Scotland and cities
Popham, subject of a recent sector at PKF, said: "Increases drawn by the benign exchange such as Cardiff failed to halt the
makeover by top chef Heston in both occupancy and room rates for the euro and it would decline in overall figures for the
Blumenthal, has made it into yield indicate that hoteliers are appear that destination hotels UK, which included an 11.9 per
the new edition of The Good not having to reduce prices to on the West Coast and North of cent fall in RevPAR.
Food Guide. With roadside
dining having something of a
Go-ahead given
dire reputation, inspectors from
Accor sizes up business split
the guide were reportedly so
for Leeds hotel
impressed by the preparation of Planning permission has
dishes, such as steak and Abbot been granted for a new
Ale pie and braised ox cheeks, £30m hotel in the centre
at the Hampshire eaterie, that of Leeds, West Yorkshire.
they awarded it a score of two The 244-bedroom hotel,
out of ten for cooking. The on a site adjacent to
guide gives a score of two to Millennium Square and
establishments that display Leeds Metropolitan
'decent cooking, good basic University, will be
technical skills and interesting constructed by GB
combinations and flavours with Building Solutions in a Accor operates a number of brands, including the budget Ibis
occasional inconsistencies'. joint venture with
developer Oxford Hotels. By Pete Hayman business in the US suffered a
Admiral Taverns to
Opening is scheduled for 12.7 per cent decrease in
sell 20 properties
early 2012 and an Hotel operator Accor is to like-for-like sales.
Admiral Taverns has put operator is expected to be consider plans to separate its Accor also revealed that it
another 20 of its pubs on the appointed shortly. pre-paid services division from opened more than 12,000 new
market, worth a total of £4.4m. Simon Wood, chair of its main hotel operations after rooms during the first half of
The pubs are located across the Oxford GB said: "We are reporting a 54 per cent fall in the year as part of plans to
UK and include sites in aiming to provide a high first-half pre-tax profits. open a total of 30,000 in 2009.
Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, the quality hotel, right where The company, which operates In a statement, the company
Midlands, the North West and it is most needed. With so the Ibis and Novotel brands, said: "Given the depth and
Wales. The move follows plans much development in the said that the recession had speed of the changes ahead,
announced last month by the area, hotel rooms in Leeds severely affected demand for the transformation and
company to restructure its debt will be in high demand." its upscale and mid-range development of the two core
with bankers Lloyds Bank. hotels, while its economy hotel businesses will be stepped up."
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