As of August 2020, about 65 percent of businesses in the accommodation and food service sector in the United Kingdom had experienced a decrease in footfall in the last two weeks due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. For approximately 10.6 percent of businesses in the industry, footfall had increased.

Business leaders in the eating and drinking out sector in the UK expected 85 percent of hotels to re-open after the lockdown measures due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) are lifted. They were less optimistic with regards to the late night sector, expecting 69 percent of establishments to re-open.

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak hit the United Kingdom, footfall to bars and restaurants declined. Across the hospitality sector on March 20, 2020, there had been a 58 percent decline in footfall in the last seven days compared to the same seven days in 2019. Bars, pubs and restaurants were ordered to close to visitors on March 20.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had a major impact on businesses within the accommodation and food service industry in the United Kingdom. Fewer businesses were trading at the start of the outbreak in March 2020, with the lowest value recorded during the first few weeks of lockdown from April 6-19 (18.2 percent). Since July most businesses have returned to trading, reaching close to 90 percent in the first week of August. However, the share of accommodation and food service businesses trading have fluctuated from September 21 onwards. By March 21, 2021, the number of businesses trading reached 37.3 percent.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the United Kingdom, bars, pubs and restaurants were forced to close to visitors on March 20, 2020. Footfall in the hospitality sector showed a staggering decline compared to last year; Nightclubs had already seen 75 percent fewer visitors in the last seven days and restaurarnts 74 percent fewer. Footfall in restaurants fell by 94 percent on the day of the closure.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having a damaging impact on the global hotel industry. Preliminary results for London hotels showed that compared to the same period in 2019, occupancy rates from March 1 to 7, 2020 fell by 21 percent, resulting in a fall in RevPar by 27.7 percent. More recent forecasts in April however showed a much bigger impact on RevPar and occupancy rates,

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The Soft Drink and Bottled Water Production industry is experiencing significant shifts, shaped by evolving consumer preferences and global dynamics. Key trends include a heightened focus on reducing sugar content, environmental sustainability initiatives and innovation in packaging materials. These trends are driving producers to adapt, innovate and cater to a more health-conscious and eco-conscious consumer base. Revenue is expected to fall at a compound annual rate of 4.4% over the five years through 2024 to €71.3 million, including a forecast fall of 3.8% in 2024. The COVID-19 pandemic, hit drinks producers hard, cutting into sales in 2020 as on-trade markets were forced to close for long periods. As the hospitality sector bounces back and consumers prioritise health and sustainability, there are opportunities for growth in sales of both soft drinks and bottled water. Meeting changing consumer preferences and demonstrating a commitment to responsible and sustainable practices will be key to achieving higher sales. Revenue is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 2.8% over the five years through 2029 to €81.8 million. Producers will maintain a strong commitment to environmental sustainability and meeting health-conscious consumers’ demands. Producers are reevaluating their practices, embracing sustainable measures and innovating to meet the changing expectations and needs of their markets in an era of increasing environmental awareness and shifting consumer preferences.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and government restrictions in the United Kingdom, 83 percent of business leaders within the eating and drinking out sector had to furlough over 90 percent of their staff in 2020. Only one percent of survey respondents did not have to temporarily dismiss any of their employees.

Due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it was estimated that the global travel and tourism market had lost roughly 63 million jobs in 2020. While this scenario improved significantly in 2022, the sector still reported around 39 million fewer jobs worldwide compared to 2019. Overall, the Asia-Pacific region recorded the most significant employment loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with approximately 28 million fewer travel and tourism jobs in 2022 compared to 2019.

Spending on restaurants and hotels in the United Kingdom drastically declined in 2020 compared to the previous year. During this period, consumer spending fell to 77.45 billion British pounds, a decrease of 42 percent from the previous year. Consumer spending on restaurants and hotels in the UK was significantly impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which resulted in strict stay-at-home measures across the country to control the spread of the virus. In 2021, consumer spending grew to over 117 billion.

The United Kingdom’s hotel market ranges from renowned 5-star and luxury hotels to major national budget brands. In 2023, the market size of the hotel industry in the UK was valued at approximately 24.7 billion British pounds, up from the previous year's total of 16.42 billion British pounds. In 2024, the market size of this industry was forecast to decrease marginally by around 400 million British pounds. How high is the UK’s hotel occupancy rate? The monthly hotel occupancy rate in the UK reached 74 percent in March 2024. While this figure was a slight decrease from the same month in the previous year, it was significantly higher than in the years 2020, 2021, and 2022. In March 2020 and 2021, the country's hotel occupancy rate had fallen to 37 percent and 33 percent, respectively. The low occupancy rate during 2020 and 2021 was due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which greatly limited travel and tourism across the globe. Who are the key players in the UK hotel industry? During the 2022/23 financial year, Whitbread’s annual revenue amounted to 2.63 billion British pounds. Whitbread is a UK multinational leisure and hospitality company, best known as the owner of the Premier Inn hotel brand which can be found across the country. Meanwhile, the gross revenue of Holiday Inn hotels worldwide totaled six billion U.S. dollars in 2023. Holiday Inn is a brand of hotels owned by the British company InterContinental Hotels Group.

In 2023, the direct and indirect contribution of travel and tourism to the United Kingdom's gross domestic product (GDP) was 9.7 percent lower than in 2019, the year prior to the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Overall, these industries' total contribution to the country's GDP amounted to roughly 239 billion British pounds in 2023. Has tourism in the UK recovered from the impact of COVID-19? While inbound resident visits to the UK dropped to just above seven million in 2021 - the lowest figure reported in two decades - the volume of inbound tourist visits to the United Kingdom rebounded in 2022, and grew to 38 million in 2023. International arrivals, however, remained below pre-pandemic levels. Similarly, while outbound tourist visits from the UK experienced around a fourfold increase in 2022 compared to the previous year, the country still reported around seven million fewer trips abroad in 2023 than in 2019. What are Britons’ favorite holiday destinations? Either before or after the impact of the health crisis, vacationing remained the main travel purpose for outbound visits from the UK. In 2023, Spain was the most visited holiday destination by UK travelers, followed by France, Greece, and Italy.

Average daily rate (ADR) refers to the average price a room is sold for - it is calculated as room revenue divided by rooms sold. In Q2 of 2023, the nominal average daily rate for hotels in the United Kingdom's capital, London, stood at 206.9 British pounds, while the real average rate totaled 151 British pounds.
Other important KPIs of the London hotel market As one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, London’s hotel market is in a prime position for growth. Following the difficulties that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic presented to the tourism industries in both the UK and worldwide, hotel occupancy rates in London stabilized, reaching over 80 percent in Q2 of 2023. Meanwhile, the nominal RevPAR in London hotels in the same quarter was around 170 British pounds. London vs. the rest of the UK Compared to other towns and cities, London is by far the most visited UK destination by overseas visitors. Accordingly, it comes as no surprise that occupancy rates outside of London are consistently lower than in the capital. Similarly, the RevPAR in UK hotels outside of London was left than half the figure in the capital in 2023.

Travelodge UK generated approximately 1.04 billion British pounds in 2023, reflecting an increase over the previous year's total by nearly 100 million British pounds. The decrease in revenue in 2020 can be attributed to the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the hospitality industry across the globe. The budget hotel brand operates across the United Kingdom, as well as in Ireland and Spain.

In 2023, the total number of travel and tourism jobs in the United Kingdom was around 20 percent lower than in 2019, the year prior to the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Overall, travel and tourism contributed, directly and indirectly, to 3.39 million jobs in the country in 2023. This figure was forecast to rise to 5.21 million by 2034.

In September 2023, visits abroad from the United Kingdom totaled roughly 9.4 million, which was an increase on September in the previous year and was only marginally less than pre-pandemic levels for the same month. Over the period considered, monthly outbound visits from the UK peaked at around 11.6 million in August 2019. Tourism in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic turned the global tourism industry upside down, with countries worldwide enacting lockdowns and travel bans to limit the spread of the virus. As a result of the emergency measures, the total number of outbound tourist visits from the United Kingdom declined by 74 percent in 2020 over the previous year, then dropped even further in 2021, reaching the lowest figure in a decade. 2022 saw a partial recovery, however, levels still remained below what was recorded before the pandemic. Meanwhile, the impact of the health crisis on inbound tourist visits in the UK was even harder, with the country recording just 6.4 million visits from abroad in 2021. Contribution of travel and tourism to the economy in the UK In 2022, the total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in the UK amounted to roughly 237.1 billion British pounds, which was around 5 percent lower than before the pandemic. That year, the travel and tourism industries supported around 3.6 million jobs in the country. Even in this case, however, travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in the UK did not catch up with the figure reported in 2019.

Global hotel giant Marriott generated approximately 25.1 billion U.S. dollars in revenue in 2024, up from 23.71 billion the previous year. The company's revenue dropped by roughly half in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. That year, global travel restrictions severely impacted the hotel industry. Leading global hotel chains In 2023, Marriott was the leading hotel company worldwide in terms of revenue, ranking ahead of other large hotel chains such as MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Hilton. When it came to number of properties, Marriott accounted for 8,353 hotels worldwide in 2023. Hilton accounted for roughly 1,000 fewer properties during that same period. Which hotel company has the highest brand value? In terms of brand value, Marriott placed among the top five most valuable hotel brands leading global hotel brands with a brand value of over three billion U.S. dollars in 2023. Hilton recorded the highest hotel brand value in 2023, valuing at over 11 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, Hyatt ranked second in terms of brand value at 6.07 billion.

The tourism sector GDP share in the United Kingdom was forecast to increase between 2023 and 2028 by in total 1.9 percentage points. This overall increase does not happen continuously, notably not in 2027. The share is estimated to amount to 8.93 percent in 2028. While the share was forecast to increase significant in the next years, the increase will slow down in the future.Depited is the economic contribution of the tourism sector in relation to the gross domestic product of the country or region at hand.The forecast has been adjusted for the expected impact of COVID-19.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in more than 150 countries and regions worldwide. All input data are sourced from international institutions, national statistical offices, and trade associations. All data has been are processed to generate comparable datasets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).

In 2023, the share of travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in European Union member countries and the United Kingdom remained in most cases below the figures reported before the COVID-19 pandemic, but showed strong signs of recovery. Overall, Croatia was the EU country where travel and tourism contributed the highest share of gross domestic product in 2023. That year, these industries generated, directly and indirectly, nearly 26 percent of the country's GDP. Portugal and Greece followed in the ranking in 2023, with travel and tourism representing 19.6 percent and 19.2 percent of GDP, respectively.