| There is growing evidence that the credit crunch has | | | | not many hotels in Edinburgh have still not fully |
| taken effect on hotels in Edinburgh. Occupancy levels | | | | recognized the power of the web. Its low hanging fruit |
| are down drastically and rates have started to follow. | | | | which will not stay unpicked for long so hotels would |
| As each day goes by there is more and more bad | | | | be advised to search out new internet suppliers as |
| news on the state of the economy. Its now the case | | | | quickly as they possibly can and before their |
| that most commentators including the bank of England | | | | competitors do. |
| agree that UK is already in recession. In conditions like | | | | |
| these hotels quickly feel the change in climate and | | | | |
| begin to reduce rates to encourage bookings. | | | | |
| | | | | The quickest and most effective way for hotels to |
| | | | | attract more bookings in tough times is simple if painful, |
| | | | | reduce hotel rates and diversify supply to as many |
| Edinburgh is the financial centre of Scotland and the | | | | sectors as possible. Rates at hotels in Edinburgh are |
| UK's second most important banking hub after London. | | | | already some 20% down on the same time last year |
| With the near collapse of the banking system and a | | | | and this is only the beginning. |
| certain contraction in the sector the effect on hotels is | | | | |
| swift. Those that have relied on bookings from this | | | | |
| previously inflated area of the economy now scramble | | | | |
| to diversify their visitor profiles. | | | | Many of us may remember the last recession and the |
| | | | | effect it had on hotel prices. While its clear a recession |
| | | | | is bad news to almost all of us, from the perspective |
| | | | | of the traveller, an upside becomes obvious, there will |
| Hotels can diversify their supply by working with new | | | | soon be a great selection of available hotels of high |
| suppliers and exploring previously untapped markets. | | | | quality at low rates, enjoy the value. |
| One such easy win may be the internet, believe it or | | | | |