Local people give Reading hotels heatwave boost
Hotels report locals are swopping their heat-filled homes for air-conditioned hotel rooms
Hotels in Reading say they've noticed bookings coming in from people living in the town.
It was particularly noticeable during last month's record-breaking heatwave and the theory is that people are abandoning their heat-filled homes and using air-conditioned hotels for some respite.
Alex Brannen from Reading's economic and destination agency recently spoke to hotel bosses at a tourism meeting: "certainly a number of our hotels have seen significant increase in what we would call very domestic tourists, our very local tourists, you know some even walking from their homes to get out of the heat."
With the extended heatwave we're having at the moment Alex said it could become a pattern:
"I think from time to time this is something that's going to happen and obviously some people, me included' are in the office and enjoying air-conditioned offices rather than swealtering in our home offices so maybe this is the future."
Unsurprisingly hotels with pools have been particularly popular.
Regardless of where the bookings come from any boost to hotel sales is seen as positive for Reading's economy.