Member Article

North West tourism increasing but companies need to get online

Hospitality businesses in the North West are reporting increasing profits however some businesses are being held back by an inability to take online bookings.

The latest MHA Travel & Tourism Survey, conducted in partnership with Lancashire 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.

Head of the leisure and tourism team at Moore and Smalley, Judith Dugdale, said: “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.”

The survey also revealed that one third (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%.

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.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .