British restaurants and hotels must ensure that they offer last minute bargains if they are to take advantage of the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend, industry experts have said.
The call came as English tourist board VisitEngland released figures estimating that 11.9 million Brits will be taking a British trip during the August Bank Holiday, with 9.9. million of these opting for an English break.
A spokesman for the British Hospitality Association said: “There will be many looking for last minute bargains – so hoteliers should ensure that they have all their offers prominently displayed on their web pages. Restaurateurs should look to local last-minute local promotions – this could be a great opportunity to attract more chance customers this weekend.”
He added: “This is the last summer bank holiday of the year and everything depends on the weather; a couple of decent warm days of sun will do wonders to encourage people to go out for the day or to take a weekend break.”
Survey
VisitEngland said that the figures of British bank holiday trips match those from last year, showing continued enthusiasm for spending time and money in the UK rather than abroad.
James Berresford, chief executive of VisitEngland said: “The forthcoming August Bank Holiday weekend is a great opportunity to enjoy some of the country's best events and experiences."
According to VisitEngland, 24 per cent will take a trip in Britain, and 20 per cent will take that trip in England. Around 3 per cent plan to visit Scotland, 3 per cent have set their sights on Wales, and just 6 per cent are planning a trip abroad over the period.