In April, Heathrow hotels enjoyed a 3.6 per cent increase in revenue per available room (RevPAR), with a 3,8 per cent decrease in average room rates (ARR) offset by a 5.6 per cent rise in occupancy to 80.9 per cent.
An improvement in non-room revenues pushed total revenue per available room (TrevPAR) up 3.7 per cent to £82.37, which combined with efficient cost control resulted in a 2.9 per cent increase in departmental operating profit per available room (DOPPAR).
Combined with flat overheads and payroll costs, this resulted in a 5.4 per cent increase in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) for hotels at Heathrow, Hotstats said.
Aberdeen sees ARR surge
Aberdeen hotels also saw GOPPAR growth last month, according to the HotStats report.
Hotels in the Scottish city enjoyed the 19th consecutive month of higher room rates, with a 10.6 per cent uplift in ARR for April on the back of strong corporate rates, up by 16.1 per cent. Conference and leisure rates also rose.
However, profitability was tempered by a 3.8 per cent in occupancy and mixed non-room performance, as well as small increases in overheads and payroll, Hotstats said.
As a result, hotels in the city recorded moderate TRevPAr growth of 3.6 per cent, while GOPPAR was up 3.3 per cent to £47.76.
North East profit decline
In contrast, hotels in the North East saw GOPPAR plummet by 7.3 per cent in April as a result of falling food and drink revenues and increasing costs.
According to the Hotstats report, North East hotel RevPAR rose 3.9 per cent to £48.11 on the back of improved occupancy and higher room rates.
However, while meeting room hire and leisure revenues increased, food and beverage revenues fell by 1.7 per cent and 7.9 per cent respectively, moderating TRevPAR increases.
Profits were further hit by growing operating costs and an increase in payroll, with average GOPPAR for the month down to £17.81.