In Great Britain, regular pay in the combined wholesaling, retailing, hotels and restaurants sector rose 2.7% a year in June to August 2026, slower than the 3.1% recorded in the prior three months, according to the Office for National Statistics[1]. The October 2026 earnings bulletin, published October 20, covers the months June to August 2026[1].
What the October bulletin shows
Across the whole economy, employees' average earnings were up 3.7% year on year in June to August 2026[1]. Total earnings including bonuses also grew 3.7%, easing from 3.9% in the three months before[1].
The gap between sectors is wide. Regular pay growth in the private sector edged up to 3.0%, while the public sector held at 6.3%[1].
After inflation, regular pay grew 0.6% a year in real terms when measured with CPIH, the same rate as in the two earlier three-month periods[1]. Using CPI instead, regular pay rose 0.8% in real terms in June to August 2026[1].
What the sector figure does and does not tell you
The 2.7% figure covers a broad ONS sector that groups hotels and restaurants with wholesale and retail. It is not a measure of housekeeping wages, and it is not a hotel room cleaning rate. Room attendant pay, contractor margins and per-room prices depend on local labor markets, statutory pay floors and the terms of each contract.
Still, the figure is a useful reference point. Hotel budgets and cleaning contracts often use published wage data as a benchmark when prices come up for review. If a contract links price changes to an earnings measure, the exact series and period matter: whole economy or sector, total pay or regular pay, and which three-month window. These figures apply to Great Britain only.
Planning for 2027
For 2027 budgets, the data show pay growth in the hotel and retail sector running below the private sector rate of 3.0% and below whole-economy earnings growth of 3.7% in June to August 2026[1]. This is one three-month window, and later releases may change the picture. Check with your advisor before relying on a single release in a price negotiation.
ARPCLEAN take
What does this mean for housekeeping?
For cleaning contractors
- Review clause: read your hotel contracts to see which earnings series, if any, triggers a price review, and note that this release covers June to August 2026.
- Pay budget: compare your planned 2027 room attendant pay rise with the 2.7% sector figure and the 3.0% private sector figure, then recheck after the next ONS release.
- Price talks: keep the sector figure separate from your per-room price, since it reflects pay across a broad sector, not your cost per room.
For hotels
- Contract reviews: check whether a contractor's price increase request cites the same earnings series and period you use internally.
- Budget lines: test your 2027 housekeeping labor budget against both the 2.7% sector figure and the 3.7% whole-economy figure.
Bill the hotel and pay the cleaners
Per-room rates, tracked hours, and the invoice that comes out of both.
Staff, minutes per room and cost per room in one calculation.
Calculate cost per room →Sources
- 1Average weekly earnings in Great Britain: October 2026Office for National Statistics ·
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About this story
ARPCLEAN Editorial
Archie Grey is the pen name of the ARPCLEAN editorial team for English-language news. This story was prepared with AI assistance, checked against the linked sources and approved by our editors before publication. Spotted a mistake? Write to [email protected].
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