The following paragraphs represent the key observations and recommendations derived from Edinburgh and the Lothians Accommodation Audit. Edinburgh and the Lothians has a significant role to play in driving achievement of Scotland’s target to increase tourism value by 2015 by 50%.

Edinburgh has experienced growth in the volume and value of tourism for several decades. As Edinburgh and the Lothians continues to see demand growth, the area will need additional accommodation supply across the whole spectrum of types / categories, but in terms of generating economic benefit and satisfying the main demand generators, the Hotel sector in Edinburgh is key.

Edinburgh’s existing Hotel sector performance, in global terms, is impressive but because of this, it is constrained in contributing to the growth target in tourism value.

Occupancy levels and average room rates achieved in the region are already some of the best in the UK and internationally. This is important to attract developers to invest in the region, albeit the City will be the focus for most.

The tightly defined City Centre is the preferred location for most visitors to stay so is the most attractive for tourism development. This plainly presents challenges in terms of available sites, land / development costs, not to mention heritage and conservation issues.

There needs to be concerted efforts to expand visitor horizons and make other areas of the wider City and wider region as attractive to visitors and developers. Marketing activity to raise the profile of non-traditional visitor areas such as Leith and further afield will help educated / re-educate visitors. Accommodation ‘hotspots’ need to be developed outwith the City Centre.

Improvements to transportation links and infrastructure are practical means of widening regional appeal and equally that of certain areas of the City itself. There is an opportunity to explore the merits of a further conference and exhibition venue as a focus for out of City accommodation development.

Edinburgh and the Lothians needs to continue to embrace new product concepts as they evolve. Future opportunities could well include fractional ownership models, Condo-Hotels, super Budget Hotels (eg Easyhotel).

The hospitality sector must be encouraged to maintain / improve visitor value for money perceptions to combat the perception of Edinburgh as increasingly an expensive destination.

The Festivals period is one where particular concern is being expressed about a shortage of affordable accommodation. Steps should be taken to explore ways of widening the offer of temporary accommodation / making accommodation further afield more attractive eg through enhanced transport provision.

Market intelligence and market information recording and gathering must be improved to assist future studies to monitor progress in balancing accommodation supply and demand in the region.

Increases in tourist accommodation supply will inevitably increase pressure on the labour market, on housing and social infrastructure. The authorities and industry need to consider what responses / initiatives can be used to mitigate the negative impacts of this growth. (click Acrobat logo for more)