p32 hotels oct3 30/9/08 17:14 Page 32
Hotels & resorts
Rupert Murray
020 7921 8010
rmurray@ttglive.com
For the latest accommodation news, visit
ttglive.com/hotels
Rocco Forte
Hotels ‘unaffected’
to pay agents
within 20 days
by credit crunch
Rupert Murray.
all had a strong month. In Leeds, room yields
THE Rocco Forte Collection of hotels has prom- UK hotels were unaffected by the economic increased by 6.1% on 2007 thanks to a 4.2% rise
ised to pay all agent commissions within 20 days. downturn and saw steady growth in August, in room rate and a 1.8% rise in occupancy.
The move was welcomed by Maurice according to the latest monthly figures released In Cardiff, occupancy was up 4.8 points and
Veronique, chairman of the Guild of Travel by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services. room rate up 6.7%, boosting room yield from
Management Companies. In London, hotels achieved 4.4% growth in £48.88 to £54.69. In Liverpool, yield was up 16%.
He said: “In an industry where commissions room yield on the same time last year. This was Robert Barnard, PKF’s partner for hotel con-
are unregulated, this is an unprecedented move largely due to a 5.7% increase in average room sultancy services, said: “Looking at the UK’s hotel
which proves that The Rocco Forte Collection is rate from £126.42 last year to £133.68 this year. figures for 2008 you would be for forgiven for
the market leader. A promise of this sort gives us Occupancy levels dipped by 1.3 percentage forgetting about the current economic turmoil.
the utmost confidence to book with them.” points in August on 2007, but full-year figures to “There have been some dips in occupancy
The guarantee also applies on any cancellation date show the capital has had a good 2008, with over the past eight months, but these have been
fees and on extended stays, whether or not the room yields up 7.2% on 2007. by no means drastic. 2007 was also a very strong
agent booked the extension. Fortunes were mixed in the regions in August. year and therefore some losses in 2008 were to
Rocco Forte’s director of sales, Mark Allvey, Room rates were up 1.9% from £71.49 in 2007 to be expected.
said: “After piloting this scheme at two of our £72.84 this year, occupancy levels were down 2.0 “Let’s hope this momentum is maintained, but
hotels, we’re delighted to be able to announce its percentage points and room yields fell by 0.2%. inevitably there will be some fallout with the
launch across the whole collection.” Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds and Liverpool markets as they are.”
CHARLEY’S TOP FIVE HOTELS
1 Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai
“I arrived on a container ship and was
overwhelmed by the senses and smells
of India. The Taj was a little oasis.”
2 Shangri-La, Sydney
“It’s on the harbour and has a great view
and the nicest beds I’ve ever slept in.”
3 Gritti Palace, Venice
“It was traditional and had so much
history. Plus it’s central so you can hop
straight off a boat into the hotel.”
4 Nikoi Island, Bintan, Indonesia
“It’s just one of the most beautiful little
islands in the world.”
Star Rating: Charley Boorman
5 Kathmandu Guest House, Nepal CHARLEY BOORMAN’S latest show, By Any Means, is on television at the moment,
“Everyone who visits Kathmandu comes and follows his journey from Ireland to Sydney. Explore! helped him and his team plan
through this hotel. If you’re hoping to the route and offered logistical support, so he popped in to the launch of its latest
meet someone who is in Nepal, wait here Worldwide brochure. He also found time to reveal his top five hotels to TTG. Pictured
and you’ll meet them eventually.” above with Charley are Caroline Phillips, Explore’s product manager for Asia, and
RK Mishra, tourist information officer for the Indian government’s ministry of tourism
32 03.10.2008
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