Accommodation Survey: June 2004 12 August 2004

Trend in Guest Nights Continues to Increase

The underlying trend in total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation has been increasing since June 1998, according to Statistics New Zealand. In June 2004, the trend level in total guest nights was 6 percent higher than in June 2003 and 8 percent higher than in June 2002. Actual total guest nights were 1.7 million in June 2004, which is a 15 percent increase compared with June 2003 and a 10 percent increase compared with June 2002.

In June 2004, the trend level in guest nights was 3 percent higher for the North Island and 10 percent higher for the South Island than in June 2003.

All 12 regions recorded more guest nights in June 2004 than in June 2003. The Otago region (up 44,000 or 27 percent) recorded the largest absolute increase in guest nights comparing the two June months, followed by Canterbury (up 42,000 or 19 percent) and Auckland (up 42,000 or 13 percent).

All five accommodation types showed increases in guest nights in June 2004 compared with June 2003. Hotels (up 82,000 or 16 percent) recorded the largest absolute increase in guest nights comparing the two June months, followed by motels (up 66,000 or 12 percent). Nine of the 12 regions recorded higher occupancy rates, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, in June 2004 than in June 2003. The Otago region (up 22 percent) recorded the largest increase in occupancy rate comparing the two June months, followed by Canterbury (up 13 percent), and Northland and Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui (both up 12 percent). ƒnƒn

In June 2004, the highest occupancy rate, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, was recorded by the Auckland region, with 55 percent, followed by Wellington (54 percent) and Bay of Plenty (45 percent). Brian Pink Government Statistician

ENDS

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