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Hotel occupancy rate at 85 percent in July
The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands reported 85.20 percent occupancy among 11 member hotels for July 2015, a 3-percent increase compared to July 2014.
A total of 60,353 of 70,839 available room nights sold in July 2015, compared to 58,479 of 71,393 of available room nights sold over the same period last year. Room rates were $134.25 during the month, compared to $130.57 last July.
“Occupancy rates were decent in July, although most of our members agree the rates would’ve been even higher if we had not had the fiber optic cable outage affecting Internet and phone communication during the month,” said HANMI chair Gloria Cavanagh.
“As this time, our hotel members continue to aid their displaced employees and donate to the community as we rebuild from Typhoon Soudelor,” Cavanagh said. “The tourism industry is still the foundation of our economy, and it’s important to keep that industry strong. We understand there’s been some consideration to divert funding from the Marianas Visitors Authority in the [fiscal year] 2016 budget. The earmarked funds for the MVA are a necessary investment in our tourism market. Proper funding is essential for healthy growth. Less than three years ago, our funding was just a small fraction of our competing destinations and it showed in our low arrival numbers. Just because we are on an upswing in our economy does not mean that these funds are no longer necessary. In fact, the funds are even more crucial now that we have suffered with July’s fiber optic damage and Soudelor. We must always remember that money spent through the MVA produces money for the CNMI.”
So far this calendar year, hotel occupancy is at an average 86 percent, 3 percent higher than last year. Additionally, average room rates have increased by 7 percent compared to the same period last fiscal year.
The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, was established in 1985 as a professional forum for the hospitality industry of the NMI. (HANMI)
