HANMI records highest occupancy, room rate

The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands reported its February 2015 occupancy and room rates as the highest on record since 1992.

HANMI reported 97.95 percent occupancy among 11 member hotels for February 2016, beating the previous monthly record set in February 1997 before the Asian Economic Crisis. Room rates were $165.88 in February 2016, also beating the previously monthly record set in August 1996.

“We are fantastically excited to be breaking the records for occupancy and room rates this year,” said HANMI chairwoman Gloria Cavanagh. “Our hotels have worked diligently with the government and the community to see this day. Our tourism industry is now moving beyond recovery to new heights.”

HANMI said 65,252 of 66,961 available room nights sold in February 2016, compared to 59,719 of 64,512 available room nights sold over the same period last year. Occupancy registered a 5- percent increase compared to February 2015, while average room rates were at $157.42 last February.

“The tourism recovery demonstrates the reliability of our hotel members as investors in the Commonwealth community,” added Cavanagh. “We are still asking the Legislature to make amendments to PL 15-2 that would allow those of our hotels on public lands to negotiate with the Department of Public Lands for new leases, so we can continue building the economy. This would be fiducially responsible, as evidence by the ongoing growth in tourism.”

HANMI has also been supporting recent FAM tours by Japanese travel agents, as coordinated by the Marianas Visitors Authority and Delta Air Lines in a bid to revive visitor arrivals from Japan. Mariana Resort & Spa, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, Kanoa Resort, Saipan World Resort, Aqua Resort Club, and Grandvrio Resort Saipan donated hotel accommodations for the tours in February and earlier this month, with additional tours slated through June 2016.

“It’s important to have a diverse market mix, and Japan is still very important to the tourism industry,” said Cavanagh. “This is why HANMI is working collaboratively with MVA and Delta to bring these travel agents in, so they can experience the beauty of the Marianas and be better equipped to sell our destination to potential visitors.”

Other HANMI member hotels are Aquarius Beach Tower, Century Hotel, Coral Ocean Point Resort, Fiesta Resort & Spa, and Laolao Bay Golf & Resort.

HANMI was established in 1985 as a professional forum for the hospitality industry of the NMI.