The hotel sector is set to benefit from increased sales volumes over this bank holiday weekend, as part of a wider leisure spending trend identified by new figures from Paymentsense.

This is based on 2018 data from the company’s 70,000 small business customers across the UK, which revealed that pubs, bars and nightclubs enjoyed a near two-thirds (60%) sales lift, followed by hotels at well over a quarter up (28%). Spending on take away and fast food was close behind with a 24% increase over normal trading levels.

Paymentsense’s figures show that other sectors also benefited from increased sales last year, with garden-related retail spending enjoying a big uplift with transactions 248% above normal levels, during the 2018 bank holiday weekends.

Regionally, across all sectors, the South East saw the greatest uplift in trade (up 9.2%), followed by the South West (7.6%) and the North East (7.2%). Portsmouth enjoyed the biggest spending boost at 26% above normal sales levels, with the national average standing at 6% uplift. London was much lower down the list at 2.2%.

Guy Moreve, CMO at Paymentsense, commented, “Despite recent uncertain times for small businesses, our early analysis suggests that the trend of extra consumer spending across both bank holiday weekends is set to continue this year.

“As spring turns to summer purchasing trends shift with the seasons: our figures suggest May, with its two bank holidays, is the real start of summer for many people – their attention turns away from practical purchasing towards outdoor activities and entertainment.

“Small hotel owners should also ensure they can take all forms of payments ahead of the upcoming May bank holiday, to really make the most of the expected increase in consumer spending. Given that consumers will only wait a few months for SMEs to start taking cards before they lose patience, it’s also an investment in the long-term success of a new or small business.”

(source: Paymentsense, image: pexels)