Staycations providing vital business boost for hotel group
A surge of staycation bookings has given a UK hotel group a vital business boost as its sites re-opened their doors to the general public following the easing of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
The Focus Hotels group has invested in creating dedicated Staycation sections on the websites of several of the properties it manages to encourage even more people to take a staycation.
Peter Cashman, Chief Executive Officer of Focus Hotels, said: “There’s no doubt that the increased interest in staycations is playing a pivotal role in our ability to recover from having been shut for many months.
“Hotel Colessio, in Stirling, has enjoyed a 91 percent occupancy rate in August – the same as August 2019, which is extremely encouraging.
“Some of our other hotels have also been enjoying occupancy rates which are higher than we might have expected in all the circumstances.
“Mercure Albrighton Hall in Shrewsbury, Hampton by Hilton Bristol City Centre, the Swan’s Nest Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon, Ibis Styles in Reading, and the Sketchley Grange Hotel and Spa in Hinckley all achieved occupancy rates of between 70 and 78 percent in August.
“Staycations are the reason for these occupancy rates; many people are concerned about going abroad because of the ever-changing global picture, and requirements to isolate when they return.”
The Focus Group has been keen to build on the increased demand for holidays at home and invested in the special Staycation pages on the websites of six of its hotels.
The pages feature a specially-designed vibrant map which provides an attractive, highly-visual, guide to all the attractions and activities available within easy reach of each hotel.
There are then dedication sections with more details, covering everything from historic houses and castles to theme parks, shopping and museum visits to relaxing walks and action-packed activities.
The hotels are also offering Staycation Special deals, too.
Peter added: “People often arrive at their accommodation not always sure of what is in the area, and often have an array of leaflets and brochures to browse through.
“We’ve made it much easier for them to plan their staycation adventure by clearly showing what is available to them when they use one of our hotels as a base.
“There’s no indication of when this pandemic will end, and I’m confident that the increased demand we have seen for staycations recently is something that is going to continue for some time to come.
“There’s absolutely no doubt that the UK has so much to offer holidaymakers of all ages.
“People can be so keen to travel abroad that they may well overlook and not appreciate the many hidden treasures on their doorstep.
“With greater reluctance to travel further afield right now, people are now either re-discovering, or realising for the first time, just what variety the UK has to offer, and our maps and staycation pages will help make that even easier for them.
“We can’t wait to welcome guests – old and new – to our hotels and let them experience for themselves the many fantastic attractions that the UK has to offer.
“We’ve worked extremely hard to ensure that all our hotels are as clean and as safe as they can possibly be, so that our guests can be confident that once they’ve enjoyed a day out somewhere, they can return to their accommodation and relax in comfort and safety.”
Buckinghamshire-based Clifton Environmental Services, a leading global provider in its field, has awarded Certificates of Conformity to Focus Hotels, which means each hotel has been independently audited against the scope of Clifton’s stringent Covid-19 Protect Scheme.
There are new Staycation sections on the websites of the Hotel Colessio in Stirling; Albrighton Hall Hotel & Spa, near Shrewsbury; the Swan’s Nest Hotel at Stratford-upon-Avon; Hatfield Oak Hotel in Hertfordshire; Sketchley Grange Hotel & Spa in Leicestershire and the Oxford Witney Hotel on the edge of the Cotswolds.
