Hotel general managers across the UK are experiencing a growing sense of confidence, according to a survey conducted by TRI Hospitality Consulting.

The Hotel Confidence Monitor revealed that 61 per cent of respondents, from among the nation’s general managers, were either optimistic or very optimistic over their hotel’s trading performance.

The results also showed increasedconfidence than three months ago, when 50 per cent saying that they were more optimistic than they were in the summer.

Some 55 per cent expected their operating profit to be sustained or increased over the current quarter.

However, the forecasts for occupancy and rates remain mixed.

The survey revealed that 76 per cent of UK hotel general managers expected their average room rates for the final three months of 1009 to be below prices in the same period last year, with 36 per cent predicting a lag of over more than five points.

The survey was completed this month with more than 100 general managers from chain hotels across the UK.

A quarter of those who participated said that they did not think average room rates during the final months of 2009 would decline, as the revenue per available room expectations rose, with 33 per cent of all respondents predicting either growth of not change during the current quarter compared with the same period last year.

Deputy managing director of TRI Hospitality Consulting, David Bailey said that occupancy and average room rate expectations have continued to gain since January, ending 2009 with more positivity and increased confidence.