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Hotels Predict Christmas and New Year’s Eve Will Exceed Last Year’s Performance

18 December 2017

According to a survey of its members, AHP stated that 54% estimate that the occupancy rate per room will be above that registered in 2016, 73% anticipate an increase in the average price per room and 70% expect an increase in the price per available room.

Hotels are anticipating that Christmas and New Year will outperform 2016, according to figures released today by the Portuguese Hotel Industry Association (AHP).

AHP’s chief executive Cristina Siza Vieira held a press conference in Lisbon today in which she stated that the survey was conducted in October but that the data are not just predictions, since the hotels have already received enough bookings, so there is a high likelihood that the estimates will be borne out.

Regarding the expected hotel guests during Christmas and New Year’s, most of them will be Portuguese, followed by visitors from Spain.

Residents of the United Kingdom and France both occupy third place, while the Brazilians are the fourth most representative visitors among the guests of the AHP’s associated establishments.

Regarding the prospects for 2018, data collected by AHP indicate that hotels expect a better performance amongst almost all the relevant indicators (revenues, occupancy rate per room, room price, profitability).

However, 62% of respondents thought that the average stay per guest would remain the same in 2018 as in 2017.

Concerning the constraints to the sustainability of their businesses, the most substantial part (30%) indicated that they were worried about the high costs of water, gas and electricity. Dependence on online operators is a problem for 18%, due to the margins that are charged.

As for growth opportunities for Portuguese tourism, the respondents stated that they were betting on an increase in tourists from the United States, China and Brazil, expecting the opening of new air routes. By segment, the hotels considered that elderly tourists and those coming to Portugal to participate in congresses, conferences or other significant events could lead to further growth in the sector.

Original Story: Jornal Econômico / Lusa

Translation: Richard Turner