insideKENT Magazine Issue 28 - July 2014 | Page 152

BUSINESSNEWS

Hever Castle

HEVER CASTLE AWARDED
2014 TRIPADVISOR CERTIFICATE
OF EXCELLENCE

“In today's competitive world, more needs to be done to provide practical
support to help UK businesses grow, not just in terms of advice and access
to finance and human resources, but in a variety of other areas too, ranging
from technology to international expansion."

Hever Castle & Gardens visitor attraction and venue in Kent announced
that it has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award as both
a Visitor Attraction and for its Luxury Bed & Breakfast accommodation. The
accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments
that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and
is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Establishments awarded
the Certificate of Excellence are located all over the world and represent
the upper echelon of businesses listed on the website.

STAYCATION NATION –
DOMESTIC TOURISTS WILL
CONTRIBUTE £108bil TO THE UK
ECONOMY BY 2017

“Winning the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for both our Visitor
Attraction and its Luxury Bed & Breakfast accommodation is a true source
of pride for the entire team at Hever Castle & Gardens and we’d like to
thank all of our past visitors and guests who took the time to complete a
review on TripAdvisor,” said Duncan Leslie, Chief Executive of Hever Castle.
“There is no greater seal of approval than being recognised by one’s
customers. With the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence based on customer
reviews, the accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to our business
and our continued commitment to excellence.”

The UK's hospitality, leisure and retail sectors are set to see significant
growth over the next few years, according to a new report from Barclays,
which reveals annual expenditure from domestic tourists will surge by 25%
to over £108 billion by 2017. The research, independently commissioned
for Barclays' Retail and Hospitality & Leisure sector teams, reveals that
growth in domestic tourism will largely be driven by continuing pressures
on the cost of living, with many financially under pressure consumers opting
to bypass overseas travel in favour of domestic locations.
Mike Saul, Head of Hospitality & Leisure at Barclays, commented: “The
economy is improving and confidence is certainly growing, and while this
will lead to a gradual rise in the number of consumers looking to holiday
abroad again, it is unlikely to precipitate a return to the holidaying habits we
were seeing prior to the downturn.”

FINANCE IS IMPORTANT, BUT
GROWING BUSINESSES REQUIRE
MORE SUPPORT

The hospitality and leisure sector will benefit most from the trend towards
'staycations', with domestic tourist spend growing to £69 billion by 2017.
Pubs and restaurants will be the greatest benefactors, with spend expected
to rise by 26% to £37 billion as more people dine out. Hotels and B&Bs will
see domestic tourist spend increase by 25% to £17 billion and leisure
attractions by 27% to £15 billion,

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI)'s latest quarterly Service Sector
Survey reports rising levels of business optimism at its fastest rate since
the survey started in 1998. Business volumes rose for a fourth quarter,
denoting a year of business growth for the service sector, which contributes
to more than 75% of the economy.

While high street retailers continue to face stiff competition from the growth
of online sales, the sector will still attract a 23% rise in domestic tourist
spend by 2017, to £15.6 billion. In particular, it is predicted that expenditure
from UK consumers will fuel impressive growth in the fashion and home
sectors, of 33% and 39% respectively. The outlook is positive across the
UK, although some locations will benefit more than others. London will
continue to top the 'staycation' league table; attracting 16% of domestic
spend by 2017. Furthermore, businesses in the South East, South West
and Scotland will also perform strongly.

The survey also shows that businesses have increased their staff volumes
and spent more on training.
“It is interesting to note an increase in profitability in the business and
professional services sector alongside an increase in expenditure on training,”
comments Carl Hasty, Director of international money transfer specialist
Smart Currency Business. “Businesses are investing heavily in elements of
growth.”

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