HOTELS in York had the worst occupancy rates in the UK last year and at the same time had the steepest rise in tariffs, according a survey published today.

The Andersen Hotel Industry Benchmark Survey 2000 found that bed occupancy in York over the year was down by nearly three per cent, against the average of two per cent over 18 UK towns and cities.

The floods in autumn and winter skewed the results in York along with pressure against tourism because of the strength of the pound, with the city's hotel occupancy rates falling from 61.6 per cent to 59.7 per cent.

At the same time York topped the table for average room rate increases, climbing by 10.1 per cent to £60.21 per night.

The conclusions bear out the findings of the York Tourism Bureau which found that the floods, rail problems and petrol crisis "played havoc" with occupancy figures, but tourism bosses say that since then there have been improvements.

The Andersen figures for York last year compare unfavourably with Leeds where hotel room occupancy rates rose - from 74.1 per cent in 1999 to 75.9 per cent whereas Leeds tariffs rose by just one per cent, from £60.37 to £60.98, roughly equating with the average prices in York.

It also pales against Manchester occupancy rates, rising by 5.8 per cent to 72.1 per cent - the best rates in the UK. Central London remained the most expensive place to stay with average room rates up 6.1 per cent to £121.19 per night. Cheapest was Sheffield at £48.13.

The survey was based on fact-gathering from 4,000 hotels all over the UK and the world. In York eight of the larger hotels were surveyed for take-up of 748 rooms.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said: "I agree with the conclusions but we have already started to see a general upturn from March and we will work very hard to see that it continues over the next three months with a dramatic increase in short-break business to the city.

"We have to keep up this momentum to counter the effect of the foot and mouth outbreak with cancellation of overseas bookings for the summer."

She added that the tariff figures may have been high because Andersen had concentrated on York's larger hotels which tended to have conference facilities. "Conference delegates tend to book good rooms at relatively high rates - and our conference bookings have been increasing."