51,538 of 84,103 available room nights were sold in July, compared to 46,965 of 85,250 of available room nights sold over the same period last year. Room rates were nearly unchanged at $96.96 during the month, compared to $97.08 last year.
“Due to summer vacations, July is normally a high season for the hotel industry,” said HANMI Chairman Nick Nishikawa. “We’re encouraged to see a slightly higher number this year compared to last July. We would like to see this recovery continue, but that will only be possible if the Northern Marianas can stabilize air lift and continue regular flights from our tourism markets, especially Osaka and Nagoya in Japan.”
So far this year, hotel occupancy is at an average 64 percent, well below the healthy industry indicator average of 80 percent.
