Hotel guest nights lead increase in June

Overnight stays by guests in New Zealand hotels were up 9 percent in June 2010 compared with June 2009, Statistics New Zealand said today.

All four commercial accommodation types had more guest nights, and increased hotel guest nights accounted for about half the increase in total guest nights. Total guest nights were up 7 percent compared with June 2009.

"The increase in guest nights follows decreases in the two previous June months," business statistics manager Louise Holmes-Oliver said. "Total guest nights in June 2009 were the lowest for a June month since 2003. In June 2010 they are now at a similar level to June 2008."

Both domestic and international guest nights were up in June 2010 compared with June 2009. Domestic guest nights were up 9 percent compared with June 2009, and 6 percent compared with June 2008. International guest nights were 4 percent higher than in June 2009 but were still down 4 percent compared with June 2008.

Guest nights in both the North and South Islands were up in June 2010 compared with June 2009, following decreased numbers in June 2009 and June 2008.

The Bay of Plenty, Otago, and Auckland regions had the highest increases in guest nights in June 2010 compared with the previous June, boosted by increases in both international and domestic guest nights. The West Coast and Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman had the only decreases in guest nights.

The Accommodation Survey records guests staying in hotels, motels, backpackers, and holiday parks in New Zealand each month.