Previous Story
HANMI hotel occupancy at 82% in July
The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands reported an 82.30% average occupancy rate among its 11-member hotels in July 2019. The figure reflects a 3% increase for HANMI hotels compared to July 2018
However, due to the reduced number of hotel rooms this July since the closure of Mariana Resort & Spa and Coral Ocean Golf Resort, the actual room nights sold were fewer than last year.
A total of 63,102 of 76,676 available room nights sold during the month, compared to 64,781 or 81,403 available room night sold last July.
Average room rates dipped slightly to $153.46 compared to $158.86 last July.
“The 83% average room rate in July among our members was very similar to last July, but still low, as 80% occupancy is considered the profitably threshold for the hospitality industry. Room rates were also slightly lower in the month,” said HANMI chair Gloria Cavanagh. “We are concerned about proposed legislation to further increase hotel occupancy tax, which will price us way over any of our competitors. We are also extremely concerned about the expiring leases of Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan and Hyatt Regency Saipan. Time is ticking quickly. In FY 2016, the Marianas Visitors Authority had a third-party feasibility study done on sustainable tourism. It stated that the quickest way for our destination to improve its product is to start with existing property leases. This is imperative for us to move into a different and more lucrative kind of tourists.”
Hotels included in HANMI’s monthly statistical reports are Aqua Resort Club, Aquarius Beach Tower, Century Hotel, GrandVrio Resort, Fiesta Resort & Sp Saipan, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Kanoa Resort, Kensington Hotel Saipan, Laolao Bay Golf & Resort, Saipan World Resort, and Pacific Islands Club Saipan.
HANMI was established in 1985 as a professional forum for the hospitality industry of the Marianas. HANMI also makes regular charitable donations to support non-profit organizations and tourism-related government projects. (PR)
