Hotel boom: Top End occupancy rates at levels not usually seen until the beginning of the Dry season
A COVID-19 enforced stay-at-home festive season has delivered Top End hotels a near 20 per cent boost in occupancy rates in what is traditionally the slowest period of the year
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A COVID-19 enforced stay-at-home festive season has delivered Top End hotels a near 20 per cent boost in occupancy rates in what is traditionally the slowest period of the year.
Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said hotel occupancy rates, which sit at 51.5 per cent, didn’t usually crack the 50 per cent mark until the Easter school holidays.
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Occupancy rates at the same time last year sat at 32.8 per cent, equating to an increase of 56.9 per cent.
“Locals can see it, the town is busier than it has been for this time of year in a long time,” he said.
“Hotels have occupancy rates they normally don’t achieve until the ramp up to the Dry.”
More and more venues are recognising the surge and opening their doors, with the DoubleTree by Hilton the latest major hotel to announce its reopening date on February 9, after the 197-room venue closed in April due to the global pandemic.
While not all accommodation venues in the Darwin and Palmerston region have come back online, the market that is open has seen much higher rates than the same time last year.
Mr Bruce said he hoped the surge would continue through to the Dry season, with plenty of incentives and Territorians taking advantage of a full wet season in the Territory.
“Territorians are having staycations and domestic holiday makers are up in the Top End,” he said.
“There is still good value in the market and locals should think about taking further advantage ahead of the next round of tourism vouchers.”
The hotel boom comes off the back of one of Darwin’s busiest festive and New Year periods for hotels and venues.
Pubs and restaurants reported the best New Year’s Eve since the peak of the Inpex boom five years ago.
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While recreational travel has seemingly improved, it may have to bear the load and continue its healthy rates over the next year, with coronavirus border restrictions affecting other types of travel.
“Business and conference travel is still suppressed and unlikely to be strong this year but other sectors of the market are showing early positive signs,” he said.
“Restaurants and cafes, pubs and clubs are all reporting strong trading conditions.”
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