The worst could be over for the hospitality sector, according to a new poll from the CBI employers’ body.

The findings show that 27% of service sector firms were more optimistic in the quarter to May than in in the previous quarter.

Gary King, director at hospitality recruiter Collins King & Associates, told Recruiter: “Speaking to a lot of our operators, we feel the worst is now over. We had our worst time at the end of last year and the beginning of this year. It is going to be slow at first but things will pick up pace from the end of the summer. There are a number of companies with good expansion plans.”

And Mark Norris, chief executive at international hospitality recruiter Profile told Recruiter that high-end hotels continue to trade well.

“If you talk to the the ultra luxury hotels in London and Paris, they are definitely very positive. There are people that have money on their pocket and want to do something special.”