A team of hotel and leisure property specialists have moved in to the Bristol office of Colliers International.
Broad Quay House has been chosen as the new regional hub for the division, which has been formed by combining the firm’s hotel division in Cirencester with the Bristol leisure department.
Head of the Bristol office Tim Davies said: “The move recognises Bristol’s status as the gateway to the South West and will bring our hotels operation closer to key clients and give improved integration with the other strong property disciplines already in the office.”
The hotels team has had a regional presence looking after hoteliers and publicans in the south west and mid and south Wales for more than 50 years. The team offers property agency and valuation services and Peter Brunt, Philip Dawkins and Simon Wells have an average of over 20 years experience in operating in these specialist markets.
Tim Davies said: “Locating the hotels division in the Bristol office will bring our experts closer to key decision makers in banks and other professional services firms while maintaining the first class links that they have with business owners across the region.”
The hotels division has witnessed dramatic fluctuations in a sector beset by conflicting economic drivers, with some businesses benefiting from the trend towards staycations and others suffering from a decline in available disposable income.
With signs that corporate travel is beginning to recover and an increase in business travel, hotels are seeing more midweek business guests and demand for meetings and events is also rising.
Peter Brunt said despite challenging trading conditions, Best Western – the UK’s largest independent hotel group, for whom Colliers are recommended agents, had reported a remarkable 20 per cent increase in business in the first half of 2011 with the South-West generating much of the uplift.
Bristol along with Birmingham saw the highest increases in popularity with Bath and Bournemouth also making the shortlist.
Tim Davies concluded: “Key to generating a strong business performance for our clients in 2012 will be the ability to react to economic conditions and the needs of customers. As ever in difficult trading conditions, some will thrive while others will experience difficulty. We have all the skills needed to advise owners and key decision makers on value and sales strategy and we continue to sell successfully.”
