HOTEL occupancy rates in Glasgow last month were up on the same period last year despite the city having more rooms.

A survey by hotel research group L J Forecaster found occupancy levels in November were more than 87percent - up 1.1percent on last year.

However, the average cost of a city centre room was almost 2percent down on the same month last year at £74.46.

In addition to the growth in occupancy, there was an increase in people wanting to stay in the city with the number of tentative bookings above last year for four out of the next six months.

Alistair Dickson, partner at chartered accountants and business advisors RSM, said: "Hotels in Edinburgh and to an extent Glasgow, appear to have been enjoying post-Brexit life.

"The shot in the arm provided by low exchange rates has given international tourism a boost and if the Scottish Government is successful in negotiating a cut to air passenger duty, this could continue in the mid-term."

HVS, which carries out consulting, valuation and research in the worldwide hotel industry, said the fact international hotel groups are choosing to introduce their latest concepts to Glasgow will "lift the tone" of the city's hotel.

One example is the Radisson Red will open on Finnieston Street in 2018 becoming the first in Europe.

HVS analyst Lionel Schauder said: "Glasgow is now a much more cosmopolitan city which will help to boost visit numbers as well as investor interest.

"Proposed faster transport links between Glasgow Airport and the city centre and plans to improve connectivity with Edinburgh and the regions will also help Glasgow's performance as a tourist destination."

More than 560 new hotel rooms will open in Glasgow by the end of this financial year and a further 1300 are presently at the planning stage and due to be up and running by 2018.

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau chairman Frank McAveety said: "Tourism is a crucial pillar of Glasgow's economic strategy and the continued growth of our industry will contribute significantly to achieving our goal of becoming the most productive city economy in the city by 2023.

"Our new tourism and visitor plan sets out a clear direction for continuing to build the city's global profile as a world class tourist destination and is focused on growing Glasgow's overnight tourist numbers from two to three million over the next seven years.

"New hotels will provide more than 2000 additional rooms in the city creating new jobs and boosting our tourism economy.

"It is particularly pleasing that against an increase in supply, Glasgow grew its hotel occupancy for November while increased future bookings over the next six months reflect the city's ongoing tourism demand."