Devon hotels positive about summer

Devon Hotels and Restaurants Association members are reporting up to a 25% increase on business year on year over the critical spring holiday periods.

As well as Exeter based hotels, the Association also includes quality hotels and restaurants across Devon including Dartmoor, East Devon, South Hams, Torbay and North Devon.

The Queens Court Hotel in Exeter is feeling good about the year ahead. The Hotel is up on last year by 15% with regards to accommodation and restaurant bookings.

Combe House near Honiton has reported strong growth year on year with figures showing an increase of 25% for April.

Mike Coombes, Managing Director of the Mill End Hotel and chair of the Devon Hotels Association, feels optimistic about the upcoming holiday season saying: “The hospitality and tourism sectors are notoriously hard to forecast, but it’s fair to say that there’s a buzz in the air. 

"Many Devon hotels and restaurants have reported a good start to the season, in part thanks to a slightly more positive economic backdrop, but also as a result of the industry’s drive to deliver ever-greater quality, fuelling demand for Devon as a short-break destination of choice.”

Derek Phillips, Hon Secretary of the association said: “There is no doubt that the national publicity surrounding the re-opening of the rail link helped to put Devon back on the map.

"We are delighted that this has resulted in a substantial increase in bookings compared to the previous year and we are very hopeful that these will continue through the summer.”

Gemma Halliwell, Sales Manager at the Abode Hotel in Exeter, echoed the optimism saying trade had been brisk.

Last year, Devon Hotels Association reported a substantial rise in bookings during the summer months, with many members seeing a record number of visitors throughout the holidays and sell out July and August months.