Hotel properties around the country are enjoying near full occupancy this New Year’s weekend and are expecting strong performance heading into 2006, according to industry officials. Frank Comito, Executive Vice President of the Bahamas Hotel Association, said while performance in the hotel sector was better than expected in 2005, there was potential for the industry to have exceeded even the favourable levels which it did achieve.
According to Mr. Comito, the sector is expected to end the year with a four percent increase in arrivals.
He also indicated that hotel industry officials anticipate that revenue in the sector will increase as a result of increases in the average daily room rate at a number of properties.
“We were faced with huge increases in energy costs in the past year which have affected the cost of operation,” said the executive vice president.
He added, “So while 2005 will look to be a good year for us it certainly could have been a lot better had we not incurred these huge energy cost increases that have affected all of us.”
Looking to the year ahead, Mr. Comito said the favourable trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
“At this point many of the hotels are filling up or are anticipated to be full for the weekend,” he said.
He added, “We’re rebounding from a little lull that we experienced last weekend when we didn’t meet occupancy levels we were anticipating because of the airport problem, but we are looking at a very strong weekend. The advanced bookings over the next several months are looking very positive and good and we’re encouraged by the prospects for 2006.”
General Manager of the British Colonial Hilton Hotel, Michael Hooper, said his property was also performing well and has high hopes for 2006.
“The whole Christmas season has been pretty good, slightly lower than we had hoped for, but we’re still running between 95 and 100 percent,” he said.
Mr. Hooper added, “Obviously we always expect to be full, but we’re at 95 percent and we’re pretty happy with that.”
According to the general manager, the average room rate at the Hilton is up “substantially” over last year and overall revenue for the period is also up.
Also reporting strong performance in their level of room occupancy, officials at SuperClubs Breezes and the Holiday Inn All Inclusive Sunspree Resort on Paradise Island said their properties were “near to full” and 87 percent occupied, respectively.
Margaret Abraham, Sales and Marketing Manager at the Kamalame Cay in Stanyard Creek, Andros said her property is also operating near full capacity, achieving a 90 percent occupancy rate on Friday.
She also expressed optimism for strong performance at the resort in the new year.
“The bookings seem to be coming in much more last minute,” she said.
Ms. Abraham added, “People are booking a lot later and are booking for the next month rather than advanced booking so the advanced bookings are not looking very healthy, but overall it’s looking like we should be looking good for next year.”
By: Darrin Culmer, The Bahama Journal
