Bristol Business News

The economic slowdown is taking its toll on Bristol’s hotels with the number of guests declining despite price cuts.

Room occupancy rates fell by 6.8% to 73% during November even though the average room rate declined by 1.2% to £69.73 against a year earlier. This meant that year-to-year room yields fell 7.9% from £55.26 to £50.90.

But, on average, Bristol hoteliers are still doing better than the rest of the country. Nationally, even though occupancy levels were up 1%  to 70.4%, the average room rate fell 2.7% to £61.77 while room yields dropped 1.9% to £43.48.

The figures were compiled by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services. Partner in charge of the its regional office Neil Dimes said:  “When viewed against a backdrop of plunging business and consumer confidence, lacklustre retail sales and the ongoing concerns about the future of the euro, these results suggest that Bristol hoteliers are having a tough time battling against the economic storms that are effecting all parts of the UK economy.

“Let’s be honest, the sector is facing a challenging operating environment that is unlikely to improve significantly anytime in the near future.  However, hotel managers appear to have learnt the lessons from 2008-09 and are much better equipped to respond effectively this time around.”

Bristol Business News

Bristol events company SXS has won the contract to produce a high-profile sailing event that will run in parallel with the Olympics.

Weymouth Bayside Festival, between July 27 and August 12, is expected to attract more than 200,000 visitors. It takes place at the same time as the Olympic sailing events off Weymouth.

The festival’s waterfront site will have two stages and up to 100 retailers. It will combine all-day live music and entertainment with extreme skate park and reverse bungee rides, as well as local arts and crafts displays and a Jurassic coast exhibition.

SXS will provide the stages, rigging, sound production, lighting and full technical support at the festival.

SXS production manager Justin Litten said: “The site is a particularly challenging one as we are going to experience some high Atlantic winds, as well as salt spray. This has presented some exciting challenges that the SXS technical team have done a great job approaching.”

Bristol Business News

Bristol firework company Skyburst, which stages major displays across the UK, has won its most prestigious contract yet – creating a spectacular display for a city in China to celebrate the end of the Chinese New Year holiday.

The Mayor of Liuyang, the largest manufacturing base for fireworks in the world, has invited Skyburst to take part in a massive display in the city.

Staff from the firm, which has a shop in Bedminster and a base in Upper Langford, North Somerset, regularly visit Liuyang to buy stock for its UK displays. The city is known in the industry for producing the world’s best fireworks.

Skyburst managing director Alan Christie said it was a huge honour to be asked by the mayor to take part in the Chinese New Year celebrations.

“It was on one of our trips there that we were asked and we’ve been working on creating a spectacular display for them ever since,” he said.

“While China has the best quality and variety of firework products, we are experts at putting those fireworks in a display. Our technology and pyro-digital software means we can create magnificent, complex effects and time our shows to music. Our techniques are cutting edge so we’re very excited to be representing the UK over there.”

Chinese New Year festivities typically last for 15 days, starting with the first full moon of the year, and are popularly known as Spring Festival.

Liuyang, a city of 1.35m people, is in Hunan province – China’s main firework manufacturing centre.

Skyburst has supplied and staged professional firework displays for more than 30 years, including the Bristol Balloon Fiesta, Brixham Festival, Bridgwater Carnival and the Tall Ship Race.

Mr Christie added: “While we are in Liuyang we plan to source new material suitable for Diamond Jubilee displays later in the year. Firewriting products, red, white and blue fireworks and sparkling diamond effects are all on the shopping list.”

Bristol Airport

Bristol Business News

Bristol Airport has been named Best UK Airport in the prestigious Business Travel Awards 2012.

The airport saw off competition from London City, Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester to land the top award, which was presented in front of 1,200 travel industry guests at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.

An independent panel of judges, including travel managers from major organisations such as EADS, Alcatel-Lucent, Tesco, HSBC and E.ON, commented on the airport’s proactive approach to corporate customers.

A dedicated sales team works with businesses and agents across the South West to understand their travel needs and further develop the airport’s offer for business passengers.

Other initiatives include a dedicated newsletter for business travellers, the introduction of free wi-fi internet access in the terminal and plans for a ‘business-friendly’ boarding gate for use by airlines serving key business routes.

It was also a successful night for Air France KLM, which operates three daily flights to Paris and four to Amsterdam from Bristol Airport. The full-service carrier won the Best Airline Worldwide category.

Bristol Airport chief executive officer Robert Sinclair said: “This award is recognition for the relationships we have built with organisations across the South West and would not have been possible without their support.

“We will continue to develop our product for business travellers, working with airlines to offer the routes and frequencies required by the region’s businesses.”

The airport handled 5.7m passengers last year, around 15% travelling on business.

The new Colliers team at Broad Quay, from left: Tim Davies, Philip Dawkins, Ben Jones, Peter Brunt, Petra Jung Lucy Bedford and Simon Wells

Bristol Business News

Bristol’s Broad Quay House has been chosen as the new regional hub for the hotel and leisure property division of Colliers International, formed as a result of combining the firm’s hotel division in Cirencester with the Bristol leisure department.

Tim Davies, head of the Bristol office, said: “The move recognises Bristol’s status as the gateway to the South West and will bring our hotels operation closer to key clients and give improved integration with the other strong property disciplines already in the office.”

The hotels team has looked after hoteliers and publicans in the South West and mid and south Wales for more than 50 years, offering property agency and valuation services. The sector has struggled in the recession although some businesses have benefited from the trend towards staycations. However, there are signs of a recovery in corporate travel with hotels seeing more midweek business guests and demand for meetings and events also rising.

Hotel specialist Peter Brunt said that despite challenging trading conditions, Best Western – the UK’s largest independent hotel group – for whom Colliers are recommended agents, saw a 20% increase in business in the first half of 2011 with the South-West generating much of the uplift. He added that Bristol and Birmingham experienced the highest increases with Bath and Bournemouth also doing well.

Tim Davies concluded: “Key to generating a strong business performance for our clients in 2012 will be the ability to react to economic conditions and the needs of customers. As ever in difficult trading conditions, some will thrive while others will experience difficulty.”

Phil Winfield

At-Bristol has announced Phil Winfield as its new chief executive, taking over the helm from Dr Goéry Delacôte who has been in post since September 2005.

Mr Winfield will be joining the Harbourside attraction in April from his position as director at INTECH Science Centre & Planetarium in Winchester.

Alan Moore, chairman of the board of trustees for At-Bristol, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Phil to At-Bristol. He brings with him a lot of expertise that will further enhance the work At-Bristol does both as an educational charity and one of the leading tourist attractions in the Bristol area.

“Phil has not only done an outstanding job at INTECH, making it one of the fastest growing visitor attractions in the country, his background is in science-based industry, Raychem Corporation, so he brings with him a wealth of knowledge.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Goéry for his work, time and dedication to At-Bristol over the last six years as without him, At-Bristol would not be where it is today – a leading science centre in the UK and a major player in the worldwide science centre movement. I am pleased to say that Goéry has accepted to stay involved with At-Bristol. With the title of President, he will work with Phil as a part-time consultant.”

Mr Winfield, who will take up the new post in April, said At-Bristol – which has hosted over four million visits since its opening in June 2000 -  had the “potential to excel as a hub for science in the city and beyond”.

“This is a really exciting time for me and I am looking forward to being a part of At-Bristol. It has the potential to excel as a hub for science in the city and beyond, utilising its unique position to facilitate links between schools, businesses, academic institutions and the community in all its richness.”

Bristol residents have been booking travel to all corners of the globe in the past year, with Borneo, Australia and Thailand among the most popular destinations, according to long-haul travel agency Bridge the World.

The firm, which opened its store at 54 Park Street a year ago this month, has been taking a look back at its first year in Bristol.

Branch manager Jody Green said: “It seems that residents of Bristol are very keen to explore the world. They have booked more trips to Borneo than any of our other shops in the UK for example; they are looking for real once-in-a-lifetime travel and adventurous itineraries.”

One of the main reasons for going to Borneo is to see the orangutans in their natural habitat, according to Ms Green. Other top-selling destinations include Australia, Thailand and New Zealand.

“It’s great to see the increase in popularity of these types of destination – they are not solely for younger people or backpackers. We have world-class hotels, premium-class flights, smaller boutique properties, adventure options and private tours in all of these countries, plus of course the chance to tailor the trip precisely to your needs,” she said.

Average booking prices are high for the Bristol store, however it seems that customers are seeking out additional value more than ever.

“We are seeing people wanting to do more and see more while they are away – but they are looking for the very best prices possible. Elements such as free-night offers in top hotels, room upgrades and access to airport lounges have all been popular ways for people to make their holiday budget stretch as far as possible,” Ms Green added.

Bridge the World in Bristol: Top destinations since launch:

1. Australia
2. Thailand
3. Malaysia
4. New Zealand
5. Singapore

Bristol Airport

Bristol Business News

More than 610,000 passengers passed through Bristol Airport last month, making it the busiest September on record.

The 1.5% year-on-year increase meant the monthly total surpassed the previous high of 601,432 in 2008.

And despite the tough economic conditions, 2011’s passenger numbers are expected to be close to last year’s total of 5.7m, with growth returning in 2012.

Airport chief executive Robert Sinclair said July and August’s poor weather resulted in many people heading abroad for some late summer sun, while the airport has also benefited from a resurgence in business travel.

“We are very fortunate to be the leading airport in the South West market which has proven to more resilient than other regions over the last few years” he said.

“While we do not expect to see such high passenger numbers over the winter, as conditions continue to be tough for business and leisure travellers alike, September’s result is an encouraging sign that strong growth will return in 2012.

“To meet this anticipated demand we are already working on a range of further enhancements to the airport to accommodate the increased numbers and improve the overall passenger experience ahead of next summer.”

A significant factor behind the record September volumes was easyJet’s decision to extend the stay of an additional aircraft operating from Bristol throughout the summer.

The airline bases 10 planes at the airport year-round with an 11th to meet demand during the peak holiday season. This year the extra A320 remained in place until the end of September, making an additional 10,000 seats available to destinations including Geneva, Pisa, Nice and Malaga.

Aircraft movements in September continued their downward trend with a decrease of 2.8% year on year, demonstrating the increased efficiencies of airlines operating larger aircraft with high load factors.

Bristol Ramada Hotel

Bristol Business News

Bristol’s Ramada Hotel, which went into administration more than two weeks ago, is under new management following a deal struck with Focus Hotels.

The takeover has secured all 170 jobs at the hotel near St Mary Redcliffe churchand a sister site near Heathrow Airport which has also been acquired by Focus.

The hotels were part of the 23-strong Ramada Jarvis group which went into administration on September 30.

The four-star Ramada Bristol in Redcliffe Way has 200 bedrooms, a restaurant housed in the remains of a 17^th-century glass-blowing kiln and a Sebastian Coe Health Club.

The two Ramada hotels take Hertfordshire-based Focus’s portfolio of three and four-star venues to 14 properties.

Chief executive Peter Cashman said:  “We look forward to delivering the long term development plans to take both businesses forward.  This underlines the confidence that investors have in Focus Hotels Management, demonstrated by our track record and our success in managing successful quality hotels.”

Most of Focus’s hotels operate under the Mercure brand – although it does not manage either of Bristol’s Mercures, the Holland House in Redcliffe Hill and the Brigstow on Welsh Back.

Focus says it offers good value and excellent service in hotels which do not have a standardised look.

The South West is bucking the national decline in the pubs sector, according to leisure and pubs industry experts.

A new report from international property consultants Jones Lang LaSalle highlights how much the UK pub trade is suffering with up to 25 closures a week across the country.

It also reveals that traditional, non-food serving public houses – “wet” pubs as they are known in the trade – have seen a sharp 66% fall in sales in the UK as a whole.

However, the firm’s leisure and pubs expert for the South West, John Kinsey, believes the region is proving to be more resilient than the rest of the country.

“Of course pubs aren’t the only sector of the economy to have suffered in recent years as people’s disposable income has reduced,” he said.

“But the added pressures of dealing with things such as the smoking ban and availability of massively discounted alcohol at supermarkets has, sadly, pushed many pubs to the brink and beyond.

“But that said, we are still doing good business here in the South West facilitating many public house sales and I firmly believe the region’s pub trade is strong compared to the rest of the UK.

“We have to be realistic though and admit that there are still factors that are causing problems, such as the continued concerns over financing as there is still little appetite for banks to provide cash due to perceived risks. Loan-to-value ratios are typically at only 50%, which is stifling further significant growth in the market somewhat.”

Mr Kinsey said the region’s public houses which also offered food continued to outperform their alcohol-only counterparts, and that this trend was likely to continue for at least the next 12 months.

“When you look at the national picture I’m afraid it is a rather gloomy outlook for the pub trade, but here in the South West I’m very much of the opinion that the glass is half full, rather than half empty, and that we will continue to see growth here.”