Aberdeen's hotel sector is suffering because of falling oil prices, new research suggests.

A monthly report from tourism market researchers LJ Research found "sustained losses" for the city's hospitality market in December 2015.

In Glasgow and Edinburgh, hoteliers recorded occupancy growth of 2.7% and 2.1%, respectively, compared to December 2014.

Aberdeen hotels, however, saw a 16.9% drop in occupancy over the same period.

The report stated: "In Aberdeen, hotel market challenges were again starkly evident. Notably below the levels recorded in Glasgow and Edinburgh, just over half (51.6%) of hotel rooms in Aberdeen were occupied in December 2015.

"This signified a drop of 16.9% in occupancy and marked the 15th consecutive month of year-on-year occupancy losses: a gloomy trend which highlights the extent to which ongoing challenges in the energy sector are affecting the Granite City."

The decline in occupancy has been matched by a fall in prices: the average cost of a room in the city tumbled by 19.8% over 12 months to £72.13.

Sean Morgan, Managing Director at LJ Research, said: "With the price of oil hovering at around $30 a barrel and evidence of a significant reduction in demand for accommodation in the coming months, it seems likely that hotel market challenges in Aberdeen will continue into 2016."