As business travel slumps with British Airways reporting pre-tax losses of £148m in the three months to 30 June, hotels are marketing their properties more pro-actively, according to recruiters.

Paula Rogers, managing director at Admiral: “They are all being proactive in having corporate launch events to market out their properties, especially with refurbs. There is lots of sales and marketing activity. They are also looking at overseas business. They are trying to capture overseas clients.

“Everyone is looking for good sales and marketing people and that is what is driving the market at the moment.”

Rob Maloney, director at Kerry Robert Associates: “The companies that have done well have switched to leisure. The corporate sector is still static. Businessmen are still travelling. The conference market is still tight. It is a very short lead-in time. London is stronger but leisure is stronger. Rates have softened.”