According to data from TravelClick, committed occupancy is up 26.5 per cent year-on-year across the UK for the Easter weekend, and up 35 per cent on Easter Sunday.
Transient bookings are also looking strong for the bank holiday weekend, with an increase of almost 50 per cent on the average.
In London, more than a quarter of hotel rooms are already filled for Good Friday and Easter Sunday, with committed occupancy at 25.1 per cent and 28.5 per cent respectively.
Over the whole weekend, the London’s hoteliers have seen an 18.8 per cent year-on-year increase in committed occupancy to 22.4 per cent – meaning the capital is outperforming Paris, Barcelona, Prague and Venice in terms of early Easter bookings.
Good weather
TravelClick said the boom in bookings could be down to the fact that the Easter weekend falls slightly later this year, improving the prospect of a sunny long weekend.
“Easter is a popular time for UK breaks as it is the first bank holiday weekend of the year with a chance of good weather,” Tim Hart, executive vice president for Business Intelligence at TravelClick, told BigHospitality.
“The UK has seen a strong and steady growth in inbound and domestic tourism over the past couple of years, thanks in part to high profile events such as the London 2012 Olympics, the Queen’s Jubilee and the Royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attracting foreign visitors to the UK.
“In addition, a renewed enthusiasm for exploring our home shores has led to increased numbers of Brits opting for a ‘staycation’ and a local mini-break over a long weekend is becoming an ever more popular option.”
Easter deals
A look at room prices over Easter suggests that hotels are making the most of increased demand, with average daily rates currently up 17.4 per cent across the UK over the long weekend.
However, Hart said that many hoteliers are also offering seasonal extras and food and beverage deals to draw in extra footfall over the Easter period.
“Themed afternoon teas, restaurant menus, bespoke packages and events are a popular way to increase revenue over the bank holiday,” he said.
One such hotel is The Spread Eagle Hotel in Thame, Oxfordshire, which is offering an Easter Heritage Package that includes dinner, bed and breakfast and free entry into Blenheim Palace for two adults and one child for £149.
Ergul Sahin, general manager of The Spread Eagle Hotel, told BigHospitality that bookings for the weekend were already looking good.
“As Easter is later in the year, more people will be spending it within the UK, hence why I believe business is already showing signs of being good for The Spread Eagle,” she said.
Dan Wait, sales manager for Exclusive Hotels and Venues, said Easter bookings are also looking positive for Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa in Surrey.
‘‘We have a good level of bookings over the Easter period already here at Pennyhill Park, which is a great sign given Easter falls quite late this year and we expect enquiry levels to pick up towards the end of February and into early March," he said.
Wait said most guests were taking advantage of the hotel's seasonal packages - a 'three nights for two' offer and the Chocolate Heaven package, which includes an overnight stay and a chocolate and vanilla body therapy spa treatment.