Revenue in Aberdeen’s hotels rose 40.8% during September last year to have the highest figure outside London according to a recent report by accountants and business advisers, BDO LLP. The firm’s monthly hotel survey found that Scottish rooms yield (the industry term for revenue) rose by 13.5% in September compared to an increase of 5.1% in regional UK; 3.7% in England; and 1.6% in Wales. Occupancy rose 3.3% in Scotland; 3.6% in regional UK; 3.8% in England and 3.6% in Wales. Revenue rose in Aberdeen by 40.8% to £92.65; 8.2% to £81.55 in Edinburgh; 7.5% in both Glasgow and Inverness to £60.54 and £57.07 respectively. Occupancy rose 5.8% in Inverness; was up 5.8% in Edinburgh and up 0.2% and 0.1% in Glasgow and Aberdeen respectively. Alastair Rae, BDO partner, said, “The improvement in revenue figures for Aberdeen was quite remarkable and due to a 25% increase in visitors to the bi-annual SPE EU Offshore Fair – attended by over 63,000 people over four days. This highlighted just how significant oil and gas is for the continued prosperity of the hospitality sector in the city.” “Aberdeen aside, Scotland had a very successful September with healthy, and similar, revenue improvements across the other three cities. Edinburgh and Inverness both managed good revenue increases at the same time as occupancy rose which is indicative of a strengthening market.”
