Category: Advice & Articles

How Christmas can help you achieve year ‘round occupancy

Posted on by Carol Jones

Most B&B owners are dependent on hospitality finance or B&B finance to set up, grow or improve their business. The trouble is, hospitality finance needs to be repaid and to do that, B&B owners need to focus on ways to bring in new business all year around.

However, once the nights draw in and the temperatures drop, Brits tend to be much less interested in booking holidays or staycations, instead focused on hunkering down until Spring. However, there is one thing that can be used to draw Brits out of hiding and into your B&B or boutique hotel – Christmas.

Here are three Christmas activities that could help pull in bookings for your rooms.

Christmas Markets

People travel all around the UK to get a hit of that festive feeling, so, with a bit of planning B&B and boutique hotels in Bath, Birmingham, Belfast, Manchester, Glasgow, Exeter, Cirencester and Winchester can tap into a whole new potential market for those colder months.

Christmas Shopping

If your B&B or hotel is based around cities and larger towns, Christmas shopping can be a great appeal for tourists. And not having to drive home at the end of a long day shopping can enable guests to get the most of their day out and allow them to enjoy a glass of wine over lunch or dinner. For extra helpings of festive fun, you could even team up with a local florist or craftsman and offer wreath or gift making workshops.

Christmas lights

If your B&B isn’t in London, Birmingham or another city renowned for its festive lights you could still capitalize on the Christmas months. Castles and stately homes often have Christmas lights, trails or tours, or maybe even a Christmas market evening where they make the most of their homes and gardens. By finding out when these are, you’ll be able to make the most of yours too!

Stewart Hindley & Partners are hospitality finance specialists that can help you find the hospitality finance you need to build the business you’ve always wanted. For more information on how you could benefit from hospitality finance, or to find out how you could raise B&B finance for your business, contact Stewart Hindley & Partners on 01488 393049.

Hungry Jobs – Specialists in the Hospitality Sector

Posted on by Carol Jones

What can HungryJobs do for you?

HungryJobs is a UK based job board which specialises in the hospitality industry. With so many job boards and recruitment websites nowadays, it can be hard to know where to post jobs in order to fulfil your recruitment needs. HungryJobs stands out in a saturated market for the following reasons:

  1.  Low cost job adverts. With adverts costing just £20 they are extremely cost effective and also offer discounts when purchasing several adverts at once.
  2. Screening questions. You have the option to set several screening questions meaning you should only receive applications from candidates most suited to the role.
  1. CV builder. Candidates have the option to build their own CVs if they do not already have one. Employers will therefore receive a detailed overview of a candidate’s previous experience.
  1. Social media presence. HungryJobs is active on Facebook and Instagram and often share job adverts on these platforms meaning your advert reaches a larger audience.
  1. Translation of job adverts. HungryJobs is happy to arrange for the translation of job adverts where required and can be contacted directly about this via their website.

Finally, the design of the HungryJobs website stands out as a modern platform which will attract candidates to apply for your positions. Visit the website today at www.hungryjobs.com and see for yourself.

How About A B&B In Skipton Or The Yorkshire Dales?

Posted on by Carol Jones

Once again, the Yorkshire Dales confirms its enduring appeal, with Skipton being newly  crowned the most desirable area in the country by The Sunday Times’s 101 Best Places to Live in Britain.

The Sunday Times judges put it in top spot for its ideal combination of low crime rates, “top class” schools, great transport links, “buzzing” high street, pretty and reasonably priced property and beautiful surrounding countryside.

“Skipton is a worthy winner,” said Sunday Times home editor Helen Davies. “We love it for its big-hearted, buzzy life.”

Second in the list was Newnham, a district of Cambridge, with Monmouth, third and Falmouth, fourth.

Each place was selected for offering the best quality of life to the widest number of people and combining desirable features such as a positive community spirit, good local shops, services and attractive outdoor spaces.

Locals proud

According to local paper, The Craven Herald:

  • Skipton MP Julian Smith said he was over the moon: “The judges described all the attributes we know Skipton has, whether it is access to the Dales, quality of its schooling or its high street. I am a very proud local MP.”

“It’s in the heart of Yorkshire and it’s the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales. It’s strong on tradition and it has a really excellent education system.

  • Councillor Chris Harbron, leader of Skipton Town Council, said: “This is a fantastic result for the town and is all the more valuable in that it is an independent survey based on a combination of hard data and research.

“It’s no accident that Skipton performs so well. It is a combination of the hard work of so many organisations – councils, schools, police and emergency services, shops and businesses, community groups and their support networks – they all come together to make Skipton what it is. I’m very proud to work and live in the town. We should sing this from the rooftops.”

  • Leader of Craven District Council, Coun Chris Knowles Fitton, said: “This accolade will further boost the area as a great place to live, work and visit and we shall all continue to work hard to maintain and enhance the town’s growing reputation.”

Where is your b&b? 

Yorkshire has more Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere else in the country (apart from London), beautiful and varied countryside and grand old cities, making it a great place to run a b&b or guesthouse.

If you are looking at starting a bed and breakfast, or building up an existing guesthouse business; wherever it is, we can help.  At Stewart Hindley and Partners, we understand the hospitality business through and through.

We are long-established specialists in securing bed and breakfast and guesthouse mortgages.  Our experienced team will be able to offer you friendly and informative advice to help you get the best rates and business support.

Browse our site for case histories and more information about the process involved in securing b&b finance or call us now to speak to our team of experts.

EPC Requirement Changes For Lending To Accommodation Businesses

Posted on by Carol Jones

The conditions for lending to accommodation businesses are about to undergo significant change. Legislation which comes into effect as of April 2018 will see far stricter requirements be in place. This relates to the energy efficiency of a building, with strict requirements before a loan can be approved. The changes might at first appear quite daunting to accommodation business owners – in particular those new to the sector. In light of this, we at Stewart Hindley would like to focus on the tremendous long term business benefits of the change.

Lending to Accommodation Businesses – EPC Requirements

Firstly, let’s have a look at the legislation change. As of April 2018 commercial and rented properties must have a minimum of an ‘E’ rating in respect of their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Up until now it has been acceptable to have an ‘F’ or ‘G’ rating. This changed has come as part of the national drive to make the country as energy efficient as possible.

In terms of this, all new and existing loans will be monitored under the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations Act 2015. You might be more familiar with this being referred to as MEES, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards.

Whilst this legislation affects virtually all properties in England and Wales at Stewart Hindley our focus is on accommodation properties. From our perspective it is quite clear that lenders will not do business in respect of any property that falls below an ‘E’ EPC rating. The question then becomes one of how to ensure financing successfully in these new conditions.

Important Factors to Consider

An important point to consider is that the onus for providing an officially certified EPC certificate lies with the seller. When an accommodation business is sold as a going concern this rating must be presented to the buyer in advance of an agreed deal. This is advantageous for the buyer, as for the seller to sell they must provide a certificate which meets the EPC criteria set by lenders.

For trading concerns it is important to note that accommodation businesses require a commercial EPC rating. This must be carried out by a suitably qualified person whose certification will be recognized and accepted. Due to the nature of their trade accommodation business owners can be misled into believing a residential EPC certificate would be acceptable.

Earlier in this article we mentioned the long term benefits of this change. This relates to an overall reduction in business operating costs. In straightforward terms the key to business success relates as much to minimizing costs as it does maximising profits. Energy can routinely be one of the highest costs for an accommodation business. By ensuring the property meets the highest energy efficiency rating possible you can ensure an optimal management level of this business cost.

Lending to Accommodation Businesses – Our Commitment to Service

We are proud of our standing as the financial experts able to secure loans for properties in the accommodation, leisure and hospitality sectors. Our team achieves this by keeping fully aware of industry affecting changes such as this EPC legislation. Stewart Hindley clients know that they can always rely on us for knowledge and insights into the market.

It is true that any change to requirements can be seen as a disruption to business planning within the accommodation sector. We have highlighted the positive benefits of the imminent changes affecting EPC ratings.

Our team handle all aspects of lending to accommodation businesses. We are committed to providing you with the knowledge and services required to reach your financing requirements. Please contact us to see how we can be of benefit to you. We’re looking forward to meeting you soon.

Image copyright: https://www.epcregister.com

Overseas visitor numbers and spends reach record highs

Posted on by Carol Jones

The good news for the UK hospitality industry is that visitors from abroad have reached a record high.  Office of National Statistics (ONS) Figures released earlier this month show that inbound tourism in July was the highest ever for inbound to the UK since official records began in 1961.

A Record July

The latest figures show:

  • A record four million overseas visits to the UK during the period, the first month to ever break through the four million mark, and up 6% on the same period last year.
  • A new record for the highest tourist spending in the UK – with overseas visitors spending £2.8bn here
  • Strong growth in visits from North America continuing in July – with a record 650,000 visits, up 9% on last year.

John Glen, UK Tourism Minister, said: “Tourism is a major economic force that creates jobs and drives growth for the whole of the country. These record figures show the continued strength of this important sector and the UK’s global position as a must-visit destination.”

Patricia Yates, VisitBritain director, added that the best-ever monthly figures underpinned a strong first half of the year for inbound tourism.

She said: “This sustained growth demonstrates Britain’s continued ability to compete internationally for visitors and shows that tourism, one of our most valuable export industries, is an increasingly important driver of economic growth across our nations and regions.”

Not just a one-off

A look back at ONS figures for the last six months shows consistent growth, with:

  • The total number of overseas visits to the UK from January to July this year totalling 23.1 million – up 8% on the same period last year and a record year–to-date.
  • Spending by visitors during this period hitting a record £13.3bn, up 9% on the same period last year.
  • 9 million overseas visits from North America from January to July – up 21% on the same period last year
  • 1 million overseas visits from EU countries, the UK’s largest visitor-generating region – 4% up on last year.
  • Visits from the rest of the world (which includes Australia, China, the Gulf markets and India) rising to a record 3.6 million from January to July this year – up 18% on the same period last year.

Last year set a record for inbound tourism to Britain on visits and spend with 37.6 million visits, up 4% on 2015 with visitors spending £22.5 billion, up 2%.

Don’t miss out on these opportunities

Do you need hospitality finance to take advantage of these trends?  Maybe you are considering a start up and require a mortgage to purchase hotel, b&b or self catering accommodation.  Or, perhaps you are looking to expand your existing hospitality business or convert your residential accommodation to commercial.

Whether you are looking for a hotel mortgage, b&b mortgage or other finance across the hospitality sector, Stewart Hindley and Partners are here to help. We understand the hospitality business through and through, which means we can offer you friendly and informative advice to suit your particular needs and circumstances

Browse our site for case histories and learn all about the process involved in securing hospitality finance or call us now to speak to our team of experts.

Source:  https://www.hotelowner.co.uk/11456-highest-ever-visitor-spending-july/

Are hotels missing some obvious tricks to boost dining sales?

Posted on by Carol Jones

Yes – according to new research by CGA and Zonal Retail Data Systems’ GO Technology report – which found that Hotels are missing out on F&B sales by not offering customers an incentive at the time of booking, or a facility to order food from their smart device during their stay.

Their report surveyed 5,000 adults in the UK and found that:

  • 54% of leisure customers (and 45% of business users) cite price as a barrier to dining at a hotel’s in-house restaurant during their stay.
  • guests’ preconceptions of the expense of eating in hotels can be overcome by offering advance booking discounts on dining. 50% of leisure customers (and 43% of business guests) would consider making a reservation if they were offered an incentive at the time of booking.
  • A further 45% of 18 to 34 year olds would also be more likely to order room service from the hotel restaurant if they could use their smartphone,
  • 62% of those would be more likely to book lunch on-site, if they could do so from their mobiles

The mobile booking facility demand echoes a growing trend in the general hospitality sector, where 67% of consumers have said they would spend more and buy more drinks if they could order from a mobile device.

Rhys Swinburn, managing director of hotel management system, High Level Software, part of the Zonal Group, said: “Our research indicates that consumers prefer a more personal approach when it comes choosing where to stay, giving hoteliers a real opportunity to capitalise on this captive market.

“Hoteliers need to think how they can pitch themselves against high street operations and incentivise guests to stay for lunch, dinner or even enjoy a drink before heading out.”

He added: “Giving guests the chance to reserve a table, coupled with an offer at the point of booking their stay is likely to have a positive impact on trade.”

How to find hotel finance for tech investments

If you are looking to make any investments to grow your hotel business – like investing in marketing software to facilitate initiatives like mobile reservations and pre-booking discounts – you may well need hotel finance.

At Stewart Hindley and Partners, we are in an ideal position to help you as we understand the hospitality business through and through. We are long-established specialists in securing hotel mortgages. Our experienced team will be able to offer you friendly and informative advice to help you build and improve your business. Browse our site for case histories and more information about the process involved in securing hotel finance or call us now to speak to our team of experts.

Source:  https://www.hotelowner.co.uk/11306-go-technology-report/

Thinking about buying a B&B?

Posted on by Carol Jones

It’s not just making a few beds and cooking a breakfast, there are a host of things you should know to help you make a success of your new business.

Where can you find good advice and benefit from the experience of other owners? Well, the internet is an obvious place to start but going on a course specifically designed for B&B owners can be much more valuable.
Continue reading “Thinking about buying a B&B?”

The best B&B courses available for prospective owners

Posted on by Carol Jones

If you’ve dreamed of owning your own bed and breakfast or guest house for a while, you’ve no doubt read many wonderful books, blogs and guides on how to make it happen. However, you still haven’t taken that first step yet – perhaps your confidence is holding you back, or maybe you have questions you need answering.
Continue reading “The best B&B courses available for prospective owners”

5 must-read books for prospective B&B owners

Posted on by Carol Jones

The idea that one day you’ll quit your 9-5 to run a bed and breakfast instead is one that has passed through many people’s heads, usually followed by ‘how hard could it be anyway?’.  But the reality of doing this isn’t as simple as throwing a ‘vacancies’ sign by the door and waiting for someone to knock. You need to do your research before committing yourself to the dream!

We’ve selected books that we think will equip you with the tools and knowledge you need to be a successful B&B or guest house owner.

Continue reading “5 must-read books for prospective B&B owners”

Where should you invest your money in your Bed & Breakfast?

Posted on by Carol Jones

Buying and running a Bed and Breakfast or guest house can be expensive. As we all know, the key to any good business is to ensure that your outgoings are not exceeding the money coming in i.e. the amount your customers are paying you. However, to provide a good service you do need to spend some money – but where to invest?

Continue reading “Where should you invest your money in your Bed & Breakfast?”

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