National Living Wage
Coverage of the National Living Wage and its implications for the hotel industry, including wage cost pressures, staffing budgets, and operational planning. We report on government policy updates, reactions from hotel operators, and how wage increases are shaping recruitment, retention, and pricing strategies across the sector. Analysis includes the broader impact on profitability, regional wage disparities, and the relationship between pay levels and service standards.
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Jun- 2025 -6 JuneFeatures
Predictions vs reality: testing OakNorth’s outlook on hospitality
The hospitality trade is a hard one. It runs hot in summer, cold in winter, and never moves in straight lines. Despite costs rising and customers shifting, the doors must open and the lights must stay on. As a lender to hotels, pubs and restaurants, OakNorth sees much of this…
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May- 2025 -22 MayHotel Brands
Travelodge revenues and profits hit by ‘tough market conditions’ in Q1
Travelodge has reported a drop in revenues from £205.5m to £198.4m, and a group EBITDA loss of £8.4m, down from profits of £4.9m in 2024, for the first quarter ended 31 March 2025, as its trading was hit by “tough market conditions”. The group stated that its sales were supported…
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14 MayFeatures
Are London’s economy hotels becoming too expensive?
Data from commercial real-estate data company CoStar has revealed that economy hotels are now more expensive than some midscale hotels in certain areas of London. This trend is a sign of London’s rising affordability challenges. However, in submarkets where prices for mid-tier hotels are slightly higher than economy rooms, the…
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Apr- 2025 -16 AprilFeatures
Could Donald Trump help the London hotel market?
London has always been a strong hotel market and it has only gone from strength to strength since the pandemic. However, as costs and macro-economic factors continue to eat away at margins could the market be in for a correction. Will Kirkpatrick, head of hotels and extended stay at Newmark,…
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Mar- 2025 -26 MarchEconomy
Chancellor resists calls for business relief in Spring Statement
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has resisted calls from businesses for relief ahead of the upcoming tax changes this April, as part of her Spring Statement today (26 March). UK businesses had been hopeful the chancellor would raise the relief rate for retail, hospitality, and leisure after cutting it to 40% in…
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Feb- 2025 -25 FebruaryFeatures
Bracing for Budget changes: hotelier insights
When the Autumn Budget 2024 was announced, the impact on the hospitality sector was immediately clear. Rises to National Insurance, the National Minimum Wage, the National Living Wage and business rates will all cost the hospitality sector £3.4bn. Hoteliers have known of these incoming changes for a few months, but…
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Jan- 2025 -23 JanuaryFeatures
How hotels can tackle Budget changes now
The implementation of the Autumn Budget 2024 comes at a time when many hotels have been grappling with balancing the books to ensure they remain profitable. By April 2025, businesses need a plan of action to tackle the additional costs that are set to hit the industry to a tune…
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Nov- 2024 -28 NovemberHotels
Travelodge revenues rise to £786.1m in Q3
Travelodge has reported that its Q3 revenue saw a 0.5% increase to £786.1m (2023: £782m) driven by opening of five new UK hotels in London Bermondsey, Rotherham, Colchester, Bristol and London Oval and performance in Spain including five new freehold Spanish hotels. It also attributed the positive revenue growth to…
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1 NovemberLatest News
Today’s news in brief – 1/11/24
Hilton has opened a new 189-room hotel in Woking’s Victoria Square as part of the town’s revitalization project. The hotel, which is close to shops, theatres, and entertainment venues, includes 14 suites and an executive lounge with panoramic views of Woking and the Surrey countryside. Guests can enjoy a fitness…
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1 NovemberLatest News
Budget to increase full-time cost of employment by £2,500, UKH reveals
The employment tax measures announced in the Autumn Budget will increase the cost of employing a full-time staff member by at least £2,500, UKHospitality has said. New analysis from the hospitality association has revealed that increases to employer NICs and wages will hit the hospitality industry “hardest”, with a 10%…
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