Hoteliers receive boost

Although visitor figures may have taken a bit of a hammering in the second quarter there was some good news for hoteliers.

The latest tourism statistics indicate a dramatic rise in the number of bed nights booked in commercial properties between May and July this year compared to the second quarter of 2012.

And the average length of stay for air visitors also significantly increased compared to the same period last year.

The news was welcomed by Bermuda Hotel Association CEO, John Harvey, as a step in the right direction.

Mr Harvey told the Sun: “We have had a reasonably good three months.

“We were up in May and June, and slightly up in July as well. And these latest bed night and length of stay figures are most welcome.

“Obviously if people are here for longer that is good news for everyone involved in the hospitality chain. 

“They have more opportunity to spend money, to shop, to eat out and take taxis — which brings in more revenue.

“It’s difficult to say exactly why we have seen this increase in the second quarter, but there is no doubt it is good news.”

Between May and July 210,541 bed nights were booked at resort hotels, compared to 150,054 in the second quarter of 2012.

A total of 366,982 bed nights were booked at all commercial properties in the second quarter of this year compared to 267,518 in the same period last year — an increase of over 100,000 bed nights.

The average stay at resort hotels increased from 4.38 nights in 2012 to just a touch over six nights this year.

Even cottage colonies experienced an increase in the average stay, which went from 6.1 nights in 2012 to 8.26 in the second three months of this year. Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell added: “Although visitor arrivals in the second quarter were flat there were more visitors on the island,
on any given day, as the
length of time visitors spent
on island increased dramatically from 5.82 nights to 7.61 nights.

“Visitors staying in commercial accommodations also increased with an average night stay of 6.42 nights, up from 4.73 nights in the previous year.”