Edinburgh's hospitality ready for 30% boost

Restaurants in Edinburgh are preparing for a huge boost in sales over the coming weeks, as the famous Edinburgh Fringe festival gets underway.  

Almost 250,000 people attended the Edinburgh Fringe and other festivals last year, which, according to trade body UKHospitality, helped deliver a 30% increase in average daily sales for hospitality venues in the city, compared to the rest of the year.

Hotels in the city are already reporting strong demand, with an average occupancy rate of 79% throughout August, with occupancy peaking at 86.1%.

The month-long celebration is one of the biggest events of the year in Scotland. 

"With hundreds of thousands of people flocking to Edinburgh for The Fringe, The Edinburgh International Festival, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the International Book Festival, venues across the city will be packed, providing a much-needed meal, drink or bed for performers and guests alike," says Leon Thompson, executive director of UKHospitality Scotland. "That fantastic hospitality is a central part for those visiting, as we showcase to visitors and residents what makes Scotland one of the leading tourist destinations in the world. 

"The sales boost that provides is invaluable. We saw sales increase a third on average last year and we expect that to be replicated, and hopefully beaten this year. It’s brilliant to see such high demand for our hotels too, but those still confirming plans to visit Edinburgh this month can rest assured that there are still rooms available.

"This all comes at a crucial time for hospitality businesses, which continue to struggle with rising costs, and we hope to see hundreds of thousands of people enjoying the best of Edinburgh over the next month."

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