HANMI occupancy at 91 pct. in June

The hotel association has reported a 91.16-percent occupancy among 11 member-hotels in June 2017, a 4-percent increase compared to June 2016.

Average room rates were at $131.08 during the month, compared to $126.94 last June.

Also, a total of 63,431 of 69,580 available room nights were sold in June 2017, compared to 60,382 of 69,420 available room nights sold over the same period last year.

“The economy continues to grow, as evidenced by higher average hotel occupancy and room rates in June,” said Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands chair Gloria Cavanagh.

“At the same time, it’s a positive sign that our HANMI members continue to increase their number of U.S-eligible employees,” Cavanagh said

She pointed out that 54 percent of all hotel employees in June 2017 were U.S-eligible workers, compared to less than 50 percent of total employees in June 2016.

“This is because of our continued commitment to hire and train available U.S-eligible workers,” she said. “However, the need for foreign labor to sustain our hotel operations, grow our services, and thus our economy remains. We will always need foreign labor. This is evident in the [U.S. Government Accountability Office] report issued this year. We hope U.S. Congress acknowledges these efforts as they consider extending the CW visa waiver program.”

HANMI members, along with other businesses on the islands, are working on compiling documents of their efforts to hire and train U.S.-eligible workers for presentation to Congress.

“Additionally, we commend the Senate for holding hearings on Senate Bill 20-35 last week, July 12,” said Cavanagh. “In order to bring new investment into the CNMI, as well as maintaining and growing the existing leaseholds, this bill needs to be considered and passed by our Legislature and governor.

Senate Bill 20-35 seeks to extend public land leases in the CNMI by 40 years, with an option to extend another 35 years, for a total of 75 years. Current law restricts public land leases to just 55 years.

Cavanagh said that over 25 years of collected CNMI data shows that its tourism economy had a healthy occupancy of over 80 percent for only three years prior to the steady rise that started in 2013.

“In the other 17 years, our tourism economy had occupancy levels in the 70s, 60s, and even 50s. And that’s why we see the results of the Feasibility and Sustainability Study done for [the] Marianas Visitors Authority this year, which shows the need for improvement of our hotel products,” she added.

HANMI was established in 1985 as a professional forum for the hospitality industry of the NMI. It also makes regular charitable donations to support non-profit organizations and tourism-related government projects.