Surge in accomodation bookings in Bridlington
A hotel owner says tourists are getting younger and staying for longer.
A Bridlington tourist accommodation owner have said they are seeing a surge in bookings for the summer season, with tourists getting younger and staying for longer.
The owner of Schofield Guest House, a hotel in Marshall Avenue, in the town, said there were now little to vacancies left until September.
But added that despite the bumper season their business continued to reel from coronavirus losses and they remained unsure how long the staycation boom would last.
It comes as East Riding Council’s Economy Portfolio Holder Cllr Jane Evison told ward members last week tourism businesses were reporting an “extremely positive” picture on bookings.
But she added there would be challenges as tourists flock to the coast, providing a boon to hospitality but potentially unnerving locals with more traffic and crowds while coronavirus lingers.
Pauline Harris, owner of the Schofield Guest House and also on the Bridlington Tourism Association’s committee, said the profile of her guests were changing, with more bookings from those aged from 30 to 50.
She added elderly guests who would typically make up most weekend bookings were fewer but an overall surge meant she had had to take on more staff.
Ms Harris said:
“We’ve had an increase in bookings and we’re seeing more direct ones coming straight to us rather than from agents.
“There’s more people coming and they’re staying for longer, I’ve had to take on more staff.
“Normally we’d have people staying for one or two nights at the weekend as a sort of in between holiday before they go abroad.
“That’s unusual for us, typically we’d be about half full in the week and full at the weekend.
“And with the government’s announcement that the lockdown lifting was delayed more people seem to be cancelling their abroad holidays and are staying more local.
“Now they’re staying for five or six and it’s their main holiday, that’s increased our turnover and the cost of cleaning the rooms is lower and with more direct bookings we’re not having to pay as much to agents.
“The biggest chunk of people missing are the elderly, they normally make up most of the weekend bookings.
“We’re seeing more couples in their 30s, 40s and 50s come now, we’re getting more of the younger ones than we had before.
“If someone was to try and book a family room with me for the summer right now they’d have no chance, there’s one night left in August then none until September.
“I haven’t put my prices up, I’ve left them as normal, but I’ve heard some hotels particularly in Scarborough are charging extortionate rates to stay.
“I’ve had some guests who’ve told me they were looking at having to pay £250 a night in some places, they’re cashing in on the shortage of accommodation.
“I personally think it was the second lockdown that hit us hardest.
“When different parts of the country were in different tiers we had cancellations because people couldn’t travel, I lost bookings repeatedly in October.
“And we weren’t getting government grants because the East Riding was in a lower tier at the time.
“I’m not sure yet how we’ll end up financially this year, I think we’ll break even because of the higher demand.
“I’m finding more guests expect the coronavirus rules to be followed and for everything to be in place, the council’s been doing spot checks on us too.
“People seem more sensitive and socially aware of what’s expected of them now, that goes for Bridlington residents and the pubs, cafes and shops too.”