The PKF business consultancy said that their monthly survey of hotel occupancy rates found that Scotland hotels experienced large drops in occupancy and revenue in December 2010. The hotels were affected by heavy snow fall, causing revenues to drop 9.1% year-on-year. Aberdeen was the only area in Scotland where occupancy and revenues actually increased.

PKF has attributed the positive numbers in Aberdeen to a rise in oil prices during December, and should continue as long as the oil price stays high. In spite of the gloomy December numbers, the occupancy rate for the entire year still beat out the rate for the UK as a whole. Of all the cities in Scotland, Edinburgh was most negatively affected by the weather. Leisure and business trips were canceled in large numbers, with Edinburgh Airport being closed for several days in December due to the snow.