Record annual guest nights surpass 40 million

12 November 2018

Nights spent in short-term commercial accommodation set a new record in the year ended September 2018, surpassing 40 million guest nights for the first time, Stats NZ said today.

Annual guest nights exceeded 30 million in the year ended July 2004, and were over 20 million in the year ended June 1997, when annual records began.

“Since guest nights reached 30 million 14 years ago, hotels have led the growth, accounting for more than a third of all guest nights in 2018,” accommodation statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said.

“Annually, guests spent more nights in hotels than motels for the first time in 2008, when motel nights dipped during the global financial crisis. Since then hotels have consistently been the largest provider of short-term commercial guest nights in New Zealand.”

Annual guest nights in Queenstown–Lakes district grew the most in the last 14 years. Following the Canterbury earthquakes (2010/11), Queenstown–Lakes district took over from Christchurch as the second largest territorial authority area for guest nights.

“Guest nights spent in Queenstown–Lakes district are now approaching levels seen in central Auckland,” Ms McKenzie said.

In the month of September 2018, total guest nights rose 2.9 percent, compared with September 2017.

The Accommodation Survey collects data for guests staying in short-term commercial accommodation such as hotels, motels, backpackers, and holiday parks. Hosted and private accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts and holiday homes, are excluded.

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