According to the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation (NIHF), overall hotel revenue in Northern Ireland is down 63% year-on-year in 2020 to date, while the occupancy figure for the year to date is 37%.
The occupancy figure recorded during the same period last year was 72.6%.
The NIHF Hotel also noted that occupancy rates in Northern Ireland rose from 24.8% to 56.9% in August following the reopening of Northern Irish hotels on July 3 after COVID-19-related temporary closures.
"Things Have Settled Down"
The Irish Examiner quotes NIHF chief executive Janice Gault as saying, "Without a doubt, there was a certain amount of trepidation about opening with concerns about safe trading, the viability of the market and a question mark over sustainability.
"However, as the summer has progressed, things have settled down, with more hotel rooms coming on stream and 'staycations' increasing.
"Domestic trade has been strong, with rural destinations such as Fermanagh, the north coast and the Mournes proving very popular.
"This trend extends beyond hotels, with other accommodation providers, in particular self-catering, reporting a very good August."
© 2020 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
