KEY hotel trading statistics from Stats SA for the month ending August 2002 reveal that both the room occupancy and bed occupancy rates increased by 12,6% and 12,3% respectively compared with the same month in 2001. This increase is largely attributed to the World Summit on Sustainable Development that kicked off at the end of August in Johannesburg. The room occupancy rate stood at 59,7% up from 53% for August 2001, while the bed occupancy rate increased from 35,9% to 40,3%. Hotel income increased by an impressive 24,6% (about R115m) from R469m to R585m. Unsurprisingly, regionally, the Johannesburg and remainder of the province region of Gauteng recorded the largest increase in the room occupancy rate (33%), while the Border region of the Eastern Cape recorded the largest decrease in the room occupancy rate (-3,8%). In July 2002, the Johannesburg and remainder of the province region also recorded the largest increase in the bed occupancy rate (34,3%), while Border again recorded the largest decrease in the bed occupancy rate of -3,7%. The survey also revealed that of the hotel classifications (ungraded, one and two-star, three-star, four-star and five-star), the ungraded market recorded an increase of 26,6% in total hotel income for July 2002 compared with July 2001.* * Ed's note: It can be assumed that since the ungraded market (such as B&Bs and guesthouses) saw the largest increase in business in August, they appear to have upped their rates considerably when one considers the fact that income for the month increased by R115m compared with August 2001. (Miguel de Sousa)
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