The UK capital suffered its worst hotel performance on record last month, as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown and global travel restrictions.
Preliminary data from benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights firm STR shows that occupancy fell to 21.9 per cent last month – down from 32.7 per cent in Match and a reduction of 73 per cent compared to April 2019.
Average daily rates fell 38.9 per cent to £87.18, while revenue per available room fell 83.5 per cent to £19.11.
Most London hotels were forced to close due to the nationwide lockdown, although some have remained open for essential workers. Unsurprisingly STR said that the occupancy and RevPAR levels were the lowest for any month in its database, while the average daily rates fell below £90 for the first time since August 2005.
Forthcoming properties including Nobu Hotel London Portman Square and The Londoner have delayed planned summer openings, and new London hotel announcements have all but dried up for the time being, with the exception of the Oberoi Group’s first European property in Mayfair.
Pan Pacific Hotels is still planning to welcome its first London property later this year within the mixed use One Bishopsgate Plaza development close to Liverpool Street station, and has employed British-born Lorraine Sinclair as its executive chef ahead of the opening.
Pan Pacific London appoints executive chef ahead of planned 2020 opening
