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Bahamas 'lags' world on hotel room rates

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Stuart Bowe

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Bahamian resorts “could not wait any longer to raise rates” if they were to meet budget, the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) president yesterday explaining this is why 2013 occupancies are expected to be down year-over-year.

Suggesting that most New Providence hotels are having to sacrifice, or ‘trade off’ occupancy for improved room rates, Stuart Bowe told Tribune Business that the Bahamas and wider Caribbean were “lagging” the rest of the world when it came to prices.

“While expenses have increased over the past five years, in order to remain competitive we have been reluctant to drive up rates to pre-recession levels,” Mr Bowe told Tribune Business.

“Many of our hotels simply could not wait any longer to raise rates in order to meet budgets. Globally, rates have rebounded, but the Bahamas and the Caribbean have lagged the global pace.”

Mr Bowe’s comments explain the Nassau/Paradise Island hotel industry’s performance for the first four months of 2013, with occupancy rates down 4.9 percentage points to 69 per cent.

This outweighed the 2.9 per cent rise in the average daily room rate to $267.23, resulting in industry revenues dropping by an average 7 per cent.

Looking ahead for the 2013 second half, Mr Bowe added: “We expect more of the same. Coming off a better than expected 2012, as 2013 continues we expect a slight decline in room occupancy and a slight increase in our average daily rates.”

Explaining the 2013 first quarter revenue drop, the BHTA chief added: “A number of destinations throughout the region experienced a decline in occupancies during the first four months of 2013.

“We believe it is a combination of the return of the recession in Europe and what we hope is a temporary shifting of consumer spending and saving patterns in the US.

“While we experienced two consecutive years of occupancy growth in 2011 and 2012, much of this could be attributed to the release of pent-up demand following several years of deep recession.”

Mr Bowe suggested that US travellers were more concerned with paying down debt and shoring up their household balance sheets, putting off discretionary spending if they could.

“We’re hoping to see a return to greater discretionary spending on travel soon,” the BHTA president confirmed. “It should be noted that while Nassau/Paradise Island and Grand Bahama have been flat or seen a decline this year in occupancies, the Family Islands, which did not on the whole show improvements in 2012, have on average seen increases this year.”

Mr Bowe said the Nassau/Paradise Island room inventory declined by 2 per cent in April largely due to one of the Wyndham’s towers being taken out of commission for the $2.6 billion Baha Mar project.

This had reduced the Wyndham’s room inventory from 559 available rooms to 415 rooms.

Meanwhile, the hotel industry is continuing to offer special promotions and value-added packages to stimulate demand, and Mr Bowe said: “While the group business this fall is expected to be softer than last year, we continue to aggressively pursue last minute group and leisure business.”

The sector was also working “aggressively” to increase airlift in preparation for the extra 400,000 seats Baha Mar will require, and Mr Bowe said the new casino Gaming Bill’s passage into law “remains a high priority”.

He added: “The Government understands its importance, not only to our competitiveness but also towards helping to drive up visitor traffic, spending and government revenue as well.”

Comments

moncurcool 11 years, 5 months ago

It is amazing to me how these people believe we are foolish. Mr Stuart is stating the Bahamas is lagging behind in rates when the rates of our hotels are probably the highest in the region. Is it any wonder people are going to other destinations? Cost matters, and the lower the cost, the greater the volume and the more persons you get. Only heaven knows when we will get it in our heads that you cannot just cater to the high end tourist market. It is sad that the average Bahamian cannot even afford a night in a hotel in their own country.

jackflash 11 years, 5 months ago

You need to understand what ADR means and how it is calculated. We don't have the highest rates in the region. We have the highest cost per stay - big difference. ADR is the 'base rate before ad on s'. we add on - energy surcharge, housekeeping surcharge, bellman, pool guy, govt. tax, hotel association tax, etc. These add to the hotel stay costs but are not factored into calculating the ADR (average daily rate). Then add that we have the highest airfare costs(just got higher July 1st), expensive food and beverage, and we automatically add gratuity.

Now we can not compete.

concernedcitizen 11 years, 5 months ago

Also apart from atlantis factor in sub par service

USAhelp 11 years, 5 months ago

Jamaica offers much better values for the money. Go to resort all included no tipping no hassles.

concernedcitizen 11 years, 5 months ago

its strange after the recession JA and DR numbers have been going up ,ours declined this year ,also Cuba is getting more americans through the cultural program ,,we need to get off our high horse and realize theres other sun sand and sea around ,,,,w/ out great service we are overpriced and too arrogant to see it ,,for 40 years the PLP been telling us how great we are and how bad white people are ,,our guest feel our arrogance and fake smiles ,,

john33xyz 11 years, 5 months ago

I was going to comment on this story (like i do on many) - but I can't say it any better than you have (and Jackflash as well).

We've got to stop making churches & babies and start making high school graduates instead.

zinos85 10 years, 6 months ago

Their earlier decision of not increasing the hotel rate was right, it definitely gave them an edge over their competitors. However, the situation is different now, the hotels should increase the rates otherwise they would not be able to survive. Tourists might not like the price hike, but if they are given good service then they will keep coming back. Due to my frequent business trips I have to stay at different hotels and resorts, but so far I have found the best service at http://www.bestlittlerockhotel.com/Gues…">Governor's Suites Little Rock.

loopkelly 9 years, 6 months ago

You will pay more or less on a hotel room if the hotel offers high quality services to its customers and if the room itself looks amazing, decorated in an unique style and having all the facilities including, meaning hot water, shower, air conditioning system, mini bar, TV, Internet connection and so on. Further, increasingly more hotels have started major renovations, in order to receive another star, by changing everything that is deteriorated, damaged or bad looking. For example, the mats should be the first ones to be changed with some from http://www.matsfloorsmore.com/home">http://www.matsfloorsmore.com/home because they are really deteriorated.

kenulorsen 9 years, 5 months ago

Any hotel must have a flag and http://www.flagselite.net/">flag pennants in front of the main doors. The customers will notice these flags and they will know what hotel it is. Also, the accommodation conditions must be more than average in order to attract new customers.

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