Manchester’s hotels defy gloom with growth in hotel occupancy

Hotel occupancy in Manchester city centre increased to an annual average of 75% in 2011 compared to 71% in 2010 according the latest data supplied to Visit Manchester.

Assisted by record high monthly occupancy in June and July and the previously reported highest weekend monthly occupancy recorded in October, the release of December's hotel occupancy data completes the picture for 2011 showing a strong year for Manchester's hotels sector despite a difficult trading environment.

The December data also reports an increase in the annual average occupancy for the sub-region of Greater Manchester, which is up to 74% from 69% in 2010.

Paul Simpson, managing director of Visit Manchester, said: "It's fantastic to see that the hotel sector in Manchester has picked up in 2011 - the last time Manchester had 75% average annual occupancy was in 2005 and that was followed by our best year since records began with 77% in 2006."