HOTELS in Glasgow achieved higher occupancy than those in Edinburgh, Aberdeen or Inverness last year, a survey has revealed.

But the year-on-year percentage rise in hotel revenues was much smaller in Glasgow than in the other three Scottish cities for which survey compiler BDO provides figures.

Occupancy in the Glasgow hotel sector came in at 79% last year, up from 77.8% in 2012. This enabled Glasgow to overtake Aberdeen, which had enjoyed the highest occupancy in 2012.

The survey, which covers a range of three and four-star properties and was published yesterday by accountancy firm BDO, shows revenue per available room (revpar) for the hotel sector in Glasgow last year was up 3% on 2012 at £47.87.

Revpar, or rooms yield, is calculated by multiplying occupancy by the average room rate achieved.

Occupancy in Aberdeen hotels, which continue to be boosted by the strength of the oil and gas industry, dipped to 77.3% last year, from 78.4% in 2012.

However, a rise in room rates enabled hotels in Aberdeen to achieve revpar of £70.23 last year, up 16.4% on 2012's £60.32 for 2012.

Edinburgh also overtook Aberdeen in terms of occupancy. The hotel sector in the Scottish capital raised occupancy to 77.7% last year, from 74.5% in 2012.

Revpar for the Edinburgh hotel sector came in at £61.36 last year, up 9.2% on 2012.

Inverness's hotel sector achieved a rise in occupancy, from 74.9% in 2012 to 77.1% last year. Revpar for Inverness hotels was up 7.4% on 2012 at £44.93.

The Scottish hotel sector achieved an occupancy rate of 75.5% last year, up from 73.2% in 2012. Its revpar was up by 8.2% on 2012 at £52.62.

For hotels in England, outside London, occupancy rose to 71.9% last year from 69.4% in 2012, with revpar up 2.4% at £41.98 last year.

BDO partner Alastair Rae said: "Glasgow performed well with the highest occupancy in Scotland but with 3% revenue growth over the year, which indicates discounting may be occurring to maintain volume."