American tourists spend more than Britons in London’s top hotels during the coronation weekend

Americans will spend more on British guests in first-class hotels in London during Coronation weekend, with US visitors accounting for 32 percent of all booking revenue and British travelers 31 percent.

Typically, US guests account for only 24 percent of booking spend, while Britons account for 34 percent.

The data, coming from the AI-powered hotel booking platform allora.aialso shows that visitors from Canada account for five percent of four- and five-star hotel bookings for the coronation weekend on May 6 and 7.

Australians, meanwhile, account for four percent.

Overall, hotel revenues are up a whopping 54 percent from the same time last year, and the average daily weekend room rate is up 28 percent from this time last year, reflecting increased demand.

Turnaround times for coronation weekend bookings have increased by 47 percent – ​​most people have booked their stay at least three months in advance.

But it’s not all good news for hoteliers, as a constant concern is the threat of cancellations, which can reach 40 percent through some booking channels.

Commenting on the data, Michael De Jongh, chief commercial officer at allora.ai, said: ‘The King’s Coronation is providing a much-needed boost to London’s four- and five-star hospitality sector, which has really suffered from Covid.

“The fact that the coronation has really captured the imagination of visitors from the US is a real added bonus for London hoteliers, as they are much more likely to use the hotel’s facilities, such as the restaurant or spa. In short, American guests spend much more than domestic guests.’

De Jongh is not surprised by the rise in room rates. He said: ‘It makes perfect sense that the increased pressure on rooms has led to an increase in the daily room rate – and if you factor in inflation, the hotels in the allora.ai network have certainly kept their price increases reasonable. .

“We’ve heard of price hikes of 60 percent or more from other hotels, which is simply outrageous and certainly doesn’t inspire long-term guest loyalty.”

Visitors from Canada account for five percent of four- and five-star hotel bookings for the coronation weekend

Addressing potential hotel night cancellations, he continued: “The reality is that a booking is not guaranteed until the guest actually arrives at the hotel. There is a growing trend of guests from the US and elsewhere booking rooms at multiple hotels and canceling all but one at the last minute. The reality is that if a guest cancels right before they are due to stay, it is very likely that their room will not be full.

“These last minute cancellations could spell real trouble for London hotels as the reality is these rooms will not be filled. They could add up to tens of millions of pounds in lost revenue across the capital.”

De Jongh calls on holidaymakers to think carefully before cancelling. “If you have to cancel for any reason, I urge you to notify the hotel as soon as possible or, better yet, move the booking to another date,” he said.