Heat gives British hotels an unexpected boost - locals check in to keep cool

According to The Guardian, searches for "air conditioning" on Booking.com have tripled since 1 June. At the same time, several hotels report a sharp increase in spontaneous bookings from guests living nearby and seeking a temporary escape from the heat.

- Many guests say they are staying in hotels instead of at home to escape the heat, Gemma Jones, operations manager at the Feathers hotel, told the newspaper.

A new guest category has also emerged: parents with infants. As many British homes lack air conditioning, families are choosing to check into hotels in order to keep a safe temperature for their children during the hottest days.

For hotels with air conditioning, the heatwave has become a business opportunity. Heartwood Inns says that around a third of all callers first ask whether the hotel has AC before booking, and several guests are also choosing to extend their stays when the heat persists.

The effect is also being felt financially. Payment company Adyen reports that hotel revenues in the United Kingdom increased by 34 per cent between 22 and 25 June compared with the same period last year, as record temperatures drove up demand for cool hotel rooms. 

The phenomenon also reflects a larger problem. The United Kingdom is built to retain heat rather than cool homes, and air conditioning is still uncommon in most houses. As heatwaves become increasingly common, hotel air conditioning has therefore become an unexpected competitive advantage - not only for travellers, but also for locals seeking a temporary "coolcation" at home.