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The latest data from Expedia Group has revealed UK hoteliers saw an “encouraging start” to the year, continuing the positive momentum of 2018, as a result of a “healthy rise” in hotel demand from international travellers.
The findings drawn from Q1 2019 data (January, February, March) show that demand for trips made by international travellers increased when compared with the same period last year, with major metropolitan cities and several regions across the country boosted by double digit year-on-year growth.
Outside of London, a number of major cities experienced notable growth, including Manchester (over +10% year on year), Edinburgh (+15% year on year), Glasgow, Leeds and Cardiff (each +10% year on year).
Top performing UK regions across the period included Kent, Berkshire, East Anglia and the Lake District and Cumbria. Hoteliers in these regions experienced double digit growth in demand, according to Expedia Group figures.
Demand in both Scotland and Wales also increased in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the same period last year.
According to the group, the growth continues to be driven by visitors from Asia with demand from Chinese travellers to the UK rising by over 180% year-on-year, supported by further growth in demand from Japan (almost +25% year-on-year) and Korea (almost +20% year-on-year).
The surge from Asia was buoyed by demand from traditionally strong visitor markets such as the US (almost +25% year on year), Germany (+15% year on year) and France (+15% year on year).
Irene Roberts, director of market management, Expedia Group, said: “Our first quarter data for 2019 points to a really encouraging start to the year for our hotel partners across the UK. Our proposition of providing hotels with the technology and marketing tools to promote themselves to valuable international visitors continues to make a positive impact.
“With the summer months ahead, a period which traditionally is always popular with international travellers visiting the UK, hoteliers should be confident of enjoying some busy times welcoming guests from across the globe.”
