Don't Let the Credit Crunch Harm Your Relationship - Keep Taking the Weekend Break

16 Jun 2008 08:00 Africa/Lagos

Don't Let the Credit Crunch Harm Your Relationship - Keep Taking the Weekend Break

LONDON, June 16/PRNewswire/ -- As part of its 'Campaign for the Real Weekend' a nationally representative survey commissioned by purplehotels and carried out by BMRB* has revealed fascinating statistics about 'weekend break ' habits amongst people in the UK.


Sex - or an increase in intimacy- was cited as a critical reason to take a weekend break by 38% of males and females questioned. Of which 44% of the 25/34-year age group strongly agreed a weekend away would improve the intimacy of their relationship with their partner.


Psychologist and "sex expert" Donna Dawson, says: "Work, in particular, appears to be stressing us out, as well as affecting our close relationships. A complete change of scenery appears to be the remedy for 'revving up' our jaded or non-existent sex lives, by injecting novelty, adventure and much-needed privacy into the proceedings."


A 'loved-up' weekend away also has a marked effect on returning home. Some 45% of women and 39% of men claimed it made them 'feel more able to cope with life' but 37% of respondents 'immediately yearned for another break' (For some, once wasn't enough!)


When asked 'How long after your return does the good feeling last?' 41% felt the 'benefits lasted a few days' whilst 20% of men declared ecstatically the 'good feeling lasted for at least a week'. Interestingly, 30% of men mentioned a great breakfast, the morning after, 'could be a deciding factor when choosing a hotel.'


Purplehotels questioned the need to escape from the stress of life to which the great majority of people (74%) revealed they hoped to grab a "chance to relax", 58% felt a break away would enable them "to feel better about work, life and family" whilst over a third (35%) of people wanted to "learn something new about a different part of Britain".


Understandably 76% of people cited 'value for money' as the most important factor when choosing a hotel; this was followed by 'convenience of location (52%) and friendly staff (38%) as the second and third important factors respectively.


35% of people plan to spend between GBP50 and GBP100 on accommodation for a weekend away, while 26% are prepared to spend over GBP100 and up to GBP150. This fits in well with the great value weekend breaks in purplehotels, which start from GBP29 per room. Guests are encouraged to feel as relaxed or raring- to- go as their hearts desire.


Purplehotels have launched a 'Campaign for the Real Weekend' to promote 'weekends not workends'.


Mike Prager, CEO explains: "Who says the weekend should be limited to Saturday and Sunday? At purplehotels we believe that the weekend is any time between Thursday & Monday & we price it that way too. My final tip is try calling in well to work. Most people at some time call in sick. Call in well and say 'I'm having a couple of days off and I feel great'. Then take off and visit this lovely island of ours!"


*The Survey was commissioned by purplehotels and carried out by BMRB via online Omnibus across 1,000 adults aged 16-64.


Purplehotels is a new 'no frills chic' brand of premium budget hotels with 11 hotels in the UK. Visit http://www.purplehotels.co.uk for further information about the Campaign for the Real Weekend.


Source: purplehotels

Media Contacts: Adhoc PR - Tel: +44(0)2074830030 - Deborah Parritt