A hotel group prepares financial statements on a quarterly basis. The senior management is reviewing the performance of one hotel and making plans for next year. The managers have in front of them the results for this year (based on some actual results and some forecasts to the end of this year):

The total estimated number of visitors (guest nights) for this year is 50,000. The results follow a regular pattern; there are no unexpected cost fluctuations beyond the seasonal trading pattern shown above. The management intends to incorporate into its plans for next year an anticipated increase in unit variable costs of 10 per cent and a profit target for the hotel of £1 million.

Required: (a) Calculate the total variable and total fixed costs of the hotel for this year. Show the provisional annual results for this year in total, showing variable and fixed costs separately. Show also the revenue and costs per visitor.

(b) (i) If there is no increase in visitors for next year, what will be the required revenue rate per hotel visitor to meet the profit target? (ii) If the required revenue rate per visitor is not raised above this year’s level, how many visitors will be required to meet the profit target?

(c) Outline and briefly discuss the assumptions that are made in typical PV or break-even analysis, and assess whether they limit its usefulness.