Overall it's moderately good news with total guest nights in July 2010 flat-lining compared with July 2009 with a modest increase of 0.2 percent. May stands alone as the month with the only comparable guest night decrease for the year so far - July squeaking in with a positive result is welcomed.
With the second month of Winter's guest night results now in, it is pleasing that trade so far has not lived up to the worst of gloomy predictions.
The North Island after out performing the South Island for two months in a row recorded flat guest nights while the South Island regained its accustomed dominance by achieving a 1 percent increase.
Only four of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights in July 2010 than in July 2009:
- Bay of Plenty, up 24,000 (12 percent)
- Otago, up 12,000 (3 percent)
- Southland, up 3,000 (9 percent)
- Northland, up 1,000 (1 percent).
International visitor guest nights in July 2010 held their end up by increasing 2 percent compared with July 2009.
Disappointingly domestic guest nights decreased by 1 percent in July 2010 compared with July 2009.
In spite of a relatively soft month, hotels have again managed to solidify their market share by being the only sector to record an increase in guest nights compared with July 2009, up 4 percent.
The three other accommodation types in the survey all recorded decreases in July 2010:
- Motels, down 2 percent
- Backpackers, down 2 percent
- Holiday parks, down 2 percent.
The growth in guest nights may not be spectacular, however a win is a win. We can optimistically look forward to rounding off the Winter period with a continued guest night increases.
Source: Click HERE
