Record summer for Glasgow hotels
Average occupancy reached 91.6 per cent last month, according to the LJ Forecaster report from tourism market research firm LJ Research.
Occupancy was at its highest (95.3 per cent) during the 11 nights of the Commonwealth Games (23 July to 3 August), up 11.2 per cent from the same period in 2013.
The monthly result is slightly below last year’s average, but one of only three instances in the past 15 Augusts when average hotel occupancy was 90 per cent or higher.
More remarkably, on 21 separate nights last month, occupancy reached 91 per cent or more, with a record 99 per cent on five nights.
RevPAR growth
Revenue per available room (RevPAR) also saw a sharp, 155 per cent increase during the Games, reaching £121.23. This pushed monthly RevPAR up 19.4 per cent to £72.27 compared to August 2013.
The LJ Forecaster, which compiles results from a sample of 25 Glasgow hotels each month, also showed that year-to-date occupancy (April to August) stands at 87.6 per cent – a 7.2 per cent increase on the same period last year.
Sean Morgan, managing director at LJ Research, said: “The upward trend seen in the Glasgow hotel market was again apparent in August and highlights a significant transformation taking place in Scotland’s largest city.
“Looking at our LJ Forecaster forward bookings there are no signs of any slowdown in demand or tapering of appetite to stay in the city. Among other things, the Ryder Cup, secured conference business and leisure events at the SSE Hydro will continue to generate new guests for Glasgow hotels.”
Marketing
Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau,said: “August was a mega month for Glasgow. As the Commonwealth Games came to an end the buzz generated by the Games continued as we welcomed a diverse mix of colourful events to the city.
“Glasgow City Marketing Bureau also delivered a high-profile joint marketing and TV advertising campaign with Glasgow 2014 across the UK encouraging ticket holders to really make the most of their time in the city by extending their stay both pre and post-Games and that has also had an impact on last month’s occupancy performance.”
