All Bristol’s main hotels are expected to have reopened within the next two weeks with those that are already accepting guests seeing occupancy climbing and advanced bookings looking ‘promising’.
The Bristol Hoteliers Association (BHA), which represents 40 establishments in and around the city, says occupancy rates are now just under a third. 
While a long way from a typical August’s 84%-plus, the rate is being viewed as proof that Bristol is bouncing back as a leading destination for business and leisure travellers.
Most hotels with swimming pools and gyms have re-opened them, although only for residents, while restaurants and bars are also off limits to non-residents. Guests are being urged to book in advance as hotels are having to adhere to the same track-and-trace measures as pubs and bars.
One of the latest to throw open its doors is the Bristol Hotel on Prince Street, pictured, which welcomed its first guests on Monday.
General manager Mark Payne said: “We are thrilled to have opened our doors again; having been closed for almost four months has been devastating for our team.
“While we are aware that business levels are greatly reduced for 2020, re-opening has given everyone a great boost, and the positivity and spirit that the team has returned to work with gives me great confidence that we will continue to deliver exceptional guest experiences in a safe environment.”
He said guests were typically a little apprehensive entering the hotel but, once checked-in, quickly became accustomed to the new procedures and processes. Feedback across the board had been that they feel safe and are glad they made the effort to travel, he said.
But while hotels are delighted to be able to open again – and the feedback from guests is positive – the BHA is warning that the industry is still in crisis. 
BHA chair Raphael Herzog, pictured, said: “We are grateful to the government for supporting us in some key ways in recent months, such as the furlough scheme for employees, which is currently due to run until October.
“We have also seen VAT reduced to 5% until the end of this year, business rates cut for this fiscal year, and the Eat-Out-To-Help-Out scheme this month; these measures have all been a massive benefit to our businesses.
“But there are huge fears within the industry for what happens when they end, or if we get a localised lock-down, as we have seen recently in other areas, like Leicester.
“The government support will need to be extended to negate huge potential job losses across the sector.
“While most hotels have re-opened, with the others opening soon, regrettably it has not been viable for some of them to do so with the same pre-Covid staffing levels.”
He added that the restriction on gatherings to no more than 30 people had “decimated” wedding and conference bookings, which provide a vital source of income to many hotels.
However, in the longer-term, bookings for 2021 suggest they will at least match the 2019 levels, as life slowly returns to pre-Covid ways.
“The government needs to continue with the support they have been giving so far, so that business can have clarity and be able to make longer-term decisions, particularly around staffing,” Mr Herzog added.
