(HANMI) — The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands reported 36% average occupancy rate among its 12 member hotels for March 2024, a 13% increase compared to 32% average occupancy among 11 hotels in March 2023
A total of 26,205 of 73,394 available room nights sold during March 2024 compared to 17,058 of 63,085 available rooms sold in March 2023. Average room rates were $112.04 compared to $132.69 in March 2023.
“Compared to March 2023, when the Marianas received only 58 flights from Korea, last month we received 102 flights, creating more opportunity for hotels to secure bookings,” said HANMI Chairman Dennis Seo.
However, Seo said in addition to ongoing competition with other beach destinations like Guam, Thailand, and the Philippines, the current exchange rate is negatively affecting both bookings and room rates in the Marianas.
“As the U.S. dollar continues to strengthen, Koreans are now preferring more cost-effective destinations such as Japan and Vietnam, where the Korean won is stronger. Hotels and other travel trades partners are having to lower our prices to compete. We need to diversify our source markets beyond just Korea and Japan. We are very excited that Hong Kong Airlines is resuming its exclusive direct service to Saipan for its customers starting on April 28,” Seo said.
Hotels included in HANMI’s monthly statistical report are Aqua Resort Club, Aquarius Beach Tower, Century Hotel, Coral Ocean Resort, Grandvrio Resort Saipan, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Kensington Hotel Saipan, LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, Saipan World Resort, and Surfrider Resort Hotel.
The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands was established in 1985 as a professional forum for the hospitality industry of the Marianas. HANMI also makes regular charitable donations to support non-profit organizations and tourism-related government projects. HANMI membership is open to all qualified hotels and other loading properties for tourists and affiliated business. Membership applications are available at www.saipanhotels.org/.
