Overall, total guest nights in February 2010 were up 2 percent compared with February 2009. With January also recording a rise, this is good news for operators that can start the year's trading with optimism.
The South Island continues to out perform the North Island by achieving a 2 percent gain in guest nights, compared to the North Island's 1 percent increase.
Nine of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights in February 2010 than in February 2009. The regions showing the largest increases were:
- Otago, up 21,000 (5 percent)
- Wellington, up 17,000 (7 percent)
- Auckland, up 9,000 (2 percent).
- Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui, down 6 percent
- Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman, down 3 percent
- Hawke's Bay/Gisborne, down 4 percent.
Disappointingly, domestic guest nights declined by 3 percent from February 2009. It must be remembered that Waitangi Day fell on a Saturday this year compared to weekdays in 2009 and 2008. This would have lessened the opportunity for domestic travel in February; however it is unclear by how much?
In February 2010, three of the four accommodation types had more guest nights than in February 2009:
- hotels, up 6 percent
- motels, up 1 percent
- backpackers, up less than 1 percent.
Excluding holiday parks, the occupancy rate in February 2010 was 64 percent, compared with 63 percent in February 2009.
The motel sector can be cautiously optimistic by the gain in guest nights, however must be conscious about the hotel sector continuing to take market share and the fall in domestic room nights.
Source: HERE
