Hotel trade handles the Iceland effect

21/04/2010 16:30:00

The ongoing Icelandic volcano incident has been felt by the UK's hotel trade, with workers in hotel jobs across the country having to help travellers who are re-thinking their plans.

Industry figures say the impact has been felt in the trade, like so many other industries, but that business has largely proved resilient.

Del Brett, managing director of Future Inns, said that the firm's establishments in Plymouth, Cardiff and Bristol have been hit by both holidaymakers and professionals cancelling plans in the UK.

However, regional hotels have been less affected than those in London, which is more reliant on international travel, with Mr Brett sounding a positive note on their experiences.

"Whilst we have felt the impact, particularly on our meetings and conferences business, we are fortunate that our hotels are based in regional centres and therefore the impact has been lesser than those businesses in major international destinations such as London," he explained.

Flights in and out of the UK have now largely resumed with restrictions lifted, although the Eyjafjallajökull volcano is still erupting. With less ash being produced, however, the danger for planes is now said to be minimal.

Eurocontrol, the European Organisation with responsibility for air safety, says it expects almost 100 per cent of flights to take off on Thursday, although with over 25,000 flights taking to the air and long waiting lists airports are handling a large backlog.

That should be good news for hotel chains like Future Inns and for the communities they work in. Last year saw a number of sites opened by the company, with its 150-bed hotel next to Cabot Circus shopping centre in Bristol creating 70 hotel jobs as well as affordable and quality rooms.

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