PLANS for significant new conference space at a Bradford hotel have been brought forward following an upturn in business after a £200,000 bedroom upgrade programme.

The Cedar Court Hotel, near the M606, is planning a self-funded scheme to add 17 new conference suites, including one to accommodate up to 800 people.

The move follows the completion of a major bedroom refurbishment programme which has seen room occupancy levels rise by ten per cent from under 80 per cent to 87per cent per the past three months.

The year on year increase in average room rate along with an incremental rise in food and beverage sales has enabled the Cedar Court Hotel to advance the conference suites programme and plans are now being drawn up.

As part of improvements to the hotel £20,000 has been spent on new air conditioning in reception to improve the environment for guests and staff alike.

The room refurbishment scheme included spending £25,000 to create two fully Disability Discrimination Act compliant bedrooms which has helped drive new business.

In addition, state of the art eco-friendly gym equipment has been installed in the leisure club and helped stabilise membership levels.

Raising standards and driving sales has been the focus of general manager, Emily Cox, who joined the hotel in April.

She said: "Our corporate business is riding high, mostly from companies located within the Bradford district, so that's a good sign for the region as a whole. We are also benefitting from visitors who are involved with the development of the new shopping centre and this will continue for some time yet.

"We feel the Bradford economy is certainly more buoyant which puts us in a stronger position to hold our rates whilst on the leisure side we are well ahead of last year including the forward bookings of festive party nights.

"Everything we're doing is aimed at raising the bar on standards. For example, we've bought into the Paddy and Scott's artisan barista style coffee which we serve with high quality biscuits by Lottie Shaw from Elland. "

The Cedar Court Hotel is part of the Best Western brand and of the independent Yorkshire Cedar Court Hotel group which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and also has hotels in Wakefield, Harrogate and Huddersfield/Halifax.

The group has spent more than £1 million on refurbishments at its venues.

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