That was the warning this week by hospitality software supplier Amateo, whcih claimed businesses in the north-west faced a shrinking market. This has led to a reduction in trade across the region of up to 30 percent.

Chief executive Matthew Maxwell said:

"The current business for hotels in the north-west has already suffered due to the foot and mouth crisis. The recent turn of events have been the fianl nail in the coffin to many hoteliers in what has been a dire year for the hospitality industry."

"Discounts on hotels are currently being offered at up to 70 percent. This will raise occupancy levels to an extent, but it will not produce sufficient revenue to survive in the long term.

Many hotels are struggling to cover costs with the spate of cancellations and drop-off in bookings."

He added that hotels needed to be "pro-active" in cutting costs. This, he said, included the use of technology to produce a more efficient business.

Published in the Sentinel Sunday - October 21st 2001

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