Hotel businessmen show a contained euphoria when assessing the record summer after two years of pandemic. Neither the war in Ukraine, nor inflation at 10%, nor the strikes at Ryanair or EasyJet have made a dent in the spirit of tourists to make up for lost time since March 2020. “If it is not because we carry the heavy burden of two years of indebtedness, the valuation would be extraordinary”, emphasizes Nuria Montes, general secretary of the Hotel and Tourism Business Association of the Valencian Community (Hosbec).
The hotels in the three Valencian provinces have exceeded the occupancy levels and prices prior to the pandemic and have reached the peak of the August 15 long weekend. “In July, 90% occupancy was reached and in August it could reach 92%. This bridge has reached 94%, which is equivalent to complete, with a commercial proposal different from that of other years, since it has not been necessary to make offers”, emphasizes Montes. All this despite the fact that inflation touched 11% in July and that the cost of a hotel night has risen 30% due to the salary increase, the increase in energy and food and drink prices. “The rise in prices has fluctuated between 5% and 20% without affecting demand.”
NH predicts the return of event and business tourism in the fall
A very positive balance that will lead hotels to prolong openings beyond September. “The great unknown is what is going to happen in autumn and spring, in which some seasonal markets such as the Balearic Islands begin to close and in which the foreign market accounts for two thirds of arrivals,” says Hosbec’s general secretary. In any case, he predicts that 85% of the hotel floor will remain open until November 30, when only 20% will closeleaving two out of every three hotels in the Valencian Community fully operational.
Foreign markets
Valencian Community and Andalusia, the most benefited according to Meliá
NH also makes a very positive evaluation of the summer. “The balance is very satisfactory with the current data, waiting for what may happen in the second half of August. In July and so far in August, the company has maintained the excellent trend of the second quarter of 2022, especially in June, where 190 million euros of income were achieved, a new historical monthly record for the company”. From the hotel company they emphasize that the summer season will be a success, “above expectations, even with greater intensity than when forecasts were exceeded at Easter”. A change in trend that they attribute to the good integration of leisure and business hotels, which will also lead them to extend the high season. “The good rate of reservations from business demand for September and October, the return of large congresses and events and long-haul international travelers could offset a hypothetical slowdown in leisure demand. All in all, we continue to see a strong trend for next fall.”
Turespaña announced yesterday the re-launch in several European markets of the You deserve Spain campaignto encourage international tourism to Spain in low season.
RIU exceeds 2019 occupancy levels
Complete. The Balearic chain concentrates its hotel plant in Spain in the Balearic and Canary Islands and also has assets in Andalusia and Madrid. “Occupancy is being very positive during this summer season in all destinations in Spain, hovering around 100% in the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and Andalusia,” the company stresses. In the case of Madrid, affected by the lack of long-haul tourists and business tourism, occupancy is lower, although they highlight that they handle very good numbers. “In general we have exceeded expectations recovering, even exceeding the occupancy levels of 2019.”
Uncertainty. Forecasts for the rest of the season are also very optimistic, especially for September. “However, it is a development that changes a lot from one day to the next, since last-minute reservations continue to be a trend”
Prices. From the chain they confirm that prices have risen. “But for the simple fact that there is a great demand. The high inflation will have to be charged at the margins and wait for the market to stabilize”.
#record #summer #encourages #hoteliers #prolong #activity #November