hotEls Deloitte: EU hotels top rankings An age old problem?


PhiLiPPe ROssiteR is chief executive of the institute of hospitality


Tom wALKer


Deloitte has revealed that European hotels were among the world’s top performers in 2010, despite the slow recov- ery and the introduction of austerity measures. According to the research,


L


ife expectancy in the UK has now reached its highest levels – 79.9 years in 2008 – and the nation is getting older. Tis has two impli-


cations for the hospitality industry; firstly, the growth of what is known as the ‘grey market’, and, secondly, from an employment perspective, an older workforce and fewer young people.


In this context, all social


research points in the same direction. In future, people will have to work much later, or continue some type of paid work into retirement in order to support themselves. Yet hospitality is perceived mainly as a


career for young people. It is oſten phys- ically demanding, frequently seasonal, has unsociable hours and perceptions of relatively low pay, with little experience nec- essary, and where high staff turnover is not an issue. Te feeling is that older workers don’t want to do hospitality jobs, and even if they do, shouldn’t we be creating opportu- nities for young people; surely, they need the jobs more? Tese are just some of the views generated by any discussion of ‘age’, in a sec- tor where you are an ‘older worker’ at 25. Tis perhaps explains the muted employer


reaction to the effective abolition of a man- datory retirement age which comes into effect on 1 April this year. Tis is a sector which employs a high proportion of migrant labour, and oſten sees benefits in having a transient workforce. Many hospitality jobs are ‘entry level’ – particularly in the restau- rant and bar sectors – and are suited to young people. Te age profile of the indus- try does reflect this. No wonder there is concern that the UK’s


hospitality employers are not responding to demographic change and the need to retain and employ older workers. Nor do firms see the business case for doing so. Yet is this really the correct image to project of an industry which employs more than 1.5 mil- lion people in the UK? Demographic change, the scrapping of


the Default Retirement Age and the immi- gration cap will all have an impact on hospitality recruitment needs and practices. Does the hospitality industry need to wake up in order to meet the challenge?


10


London came third only to Sydney, Australia; and Seoul, South Korea, in the global occupancy rankings at more than 82 per cent. Geneva, Switzerland; and


the Italian city of Venice were revealed as the top two per- forming locations in terms of average room rate and RevPAR. Four European cities - London; Paris, France; Istanbul, Turkey; and Zurich, Switzerland – appeared in the top 20 across all three performance rankings. Alex Kyriakidis, global managing director


of tourism, hospitality and leisure at Deloitte, said: “RevPAR growth gained momentum [in


London properties were among the world’s top perfomers during 2010


London] during 2010 and the results were good despite the current economic uncertainty facing the UK economy. “2011 may prove to be more challenging,


however, as the city starts to see new hotel supply come on board in the run up to the 2012 London Olympic Games.”


New budget hotel opens in the UK ‘every week’ Tom wALKer


Te branded budget hotel sector remains the most dynamic segment of the UK hotel indus- try, according to analyst HotStats. In its report, HotStats found that a total of 54 properties were added to the UK’s branded


budget hotel supply – with more than 5,400 new rooms being made available last year. Te market continues to be dominated by


two players – Premier Inn remains the biggest brand with a 37 per cent share by rooms, fol- lowed by Travelodge with 27 per cent.


Leaf Hotels to run new-look Dover hotel peTe HAymAN


Leaf Hotels has announced that the Best Western Dover Marina Hotel and Spa is to open on 24 March, following the completion of a multi-mil- lion pound redevelopment. Nicholas Hollinshead


Interiors led the design of the renovation of the Grade II-listed hotel, which will overlook Dover Harbour and was previously known as the Churchill Hotel. Te 81-bedroom property


will be run by Leaf Hotels under the Best Western brand, and is set to include three conference, function and meeting rooms and a restaurant and bar. However, the reopening will not include the launch of the property’s spa area; coffee shop; and ice cream parlour.


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital Te new-look 81-bedroom hotel offers sweeping views of Dover harbour A spokesperson confirmed that the spa is


expected to form part of the next phase of improvements at the hotel, which are due to be carried out later this year.


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2011


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24