Hotels occupancy rates up in January 2006

Deluxe hotels in Metro Manila have reported higher occupancy rates in January 2006. According to the Department of Tourism, the average occupancy rate of the 18 deluxe hotels in the region improved to a record high of 78.90 percent in January 2006 from 74.49 percent a year ago.

This was despite the fact that the number of deluxe hotel rooms went up by 241 or 3.15 percent to 7,890 from 7,649.

"The increase could be attributed to the increase in group bookings, conferences, seminars and visitors who participated in different sports tournaments as reported by the de luxe hotels," the TRSD said.

Data showed that international visitor arrivals surged 22.1 percent year-on-year to 268,818 in January 2006 from 220,248 a year earlier. In the whole of 2005, arrivals grew 14.5 percent to 2.623 million from 2.291 million in 2004.

Makati Shangri-La Manila reported the highest occupancy rate of 91.73 percent. The second most occupied de luxe hotel was Pan Pacific Manila with occupancy rate of 89.72 percent.

Other hotels that reported occupancy rates above 80 percent in January were New World Renaissance Hotel, Heritage Hotel, Hotel Intercontinental, Bellevue Manila, Holiday Inn Galleria, Manila Diamon, Peninsula Manila, and Westin Philippine Plaza.

The Philippines-Korea Travel Agency Association complained, however, that with the rising hotel occupancy rates, many of the deluxe hotels have dramatically increased their rates.

Because of rising hotel rates, the average length of stay of hotel guests shortened by 5.3 percent to 2.52 nights in January 2006 from 2.66 nights a year ago. From MANILA STANDARD TODAY