Hotel bookings down 10%

Hotel occupancy in Majorca last month was ten per cent down on October last year, according to figures made public by the Majorcan Hotel federation yesterday. Of the hotels open last month, bearing in mind that many had already closed for the winter with 50 per cent less bed spaces available this winter than last year, average occupancy was 55.3%. In October 2001, hotel occupancy was 66 per cent with many more hotels open. The biggest drop has been in the three star hotel sector an indication that winter package holidays are failing to sell well. Three star hotel occupancy is down over 11% while the two star market is struggling down 10 per cent. Occupancy in the four star sector is down 8.3%, indicating a lack of quality tourists as well. Only the five star market appears to be holding up, although bookings are down, but by just 2.2%. According to the report published by the Majorcan Hotel Federation, hotel occupancy in June was down by 14% and January four per cent. Other black months were September which suffered a 11 per cent fall in hotel occupancy, July, a peak season month, was down 11 per cent and March was also 10.7 shy of hotel bookings in March last year. The hotel federation is not expecting a busy winter, the indication from the key markets are not good for the short term, although many hoteliers have returned from the World Travel Market in London bearing news of the British market, now the region's number one client, remaining strong in the Balearics next summer. The verdict is still out on whether or not the German market will recover.