North West tourism on the up, but companies need to get online!
NORTH West hospitality businesses are
reporting increased profits, but an inability to take online bookings is holding
some businesses back, according to a survey.
The latest MHA Travel and Tourism Survey, conducted in partnership with Merseyside
accountancy firm Moore and Smalley, indicates that 26% of operators in the hotel
and bed and breakfast sector are still unable to take online bookings.
This is despite the fact that 50% of respondents to the annual survey report a
year on year increase in online bookings and the fact that there has been a 16%
increase in the ability to take online bookings direct.
"This growth in direct transactions is good to see, especially as online
booking agents have been increasingly dominating the UK hotel and bed and
breakfast sector. This trend should lead to a greater online presence and more
competitive offerings." said James Treadwell, head of the leisure and tourism
team at Moore and Smalley.
The survey was conducted by MHA, the UK wide association of chartered
accountants and business advisors, of which Moore and Smalley is the North West
member.
The results for 2015 point strongly towards growing business confidence and are
encouraging for the development of the hospitality industry. Indeed, 64% of
respondents reported an increase in profits over the past 12 months,
representing a rising trend in domestic trading conditions, with 59% saying that
they expect to see an increase over the next 12 months.
33% of respondents to the survey still employ workers on zero hours contracts,
only slightly lower than the 37% recorded last year. The amount of zero hour
contract staff who are working more than 21 hours has halved since last year to
34%.
James said:- "These findings are concerning and suggest that hospitality
workers on zero hours contracts are suffering through reduced paid hours."
The percentage of companies who have green policies in place has dropped to 65%,
down from 82% last year and over 41% remain unaware that tax reliefs are
available for introduction of such policies.
This decrease in those with green policies suggests increased financial pressure
and yet at the same time there appears to be a distinct lack of awareness of the
tax reliefs available, which suggests that more publiCity is needed to encourage
eco friendly investment.
A wider lack of investment reflects the position in the economy as a whole with
continued difficulties in raising traditional bank finance, although there are
some signs of this position easing.
