ISLAND HOTELS WERE 93pc FULL IN AUGUST

by Lois Jones
HOTELS on Majorca were 92.42 percent full in August, 2.69 percent more than the same period last year, according to the Majorcan Hoteliers Federation.
A spokesman said that there was a four percent rise in the number of clients staying in one-star hotels and an increase of nearly nine percent at five-star establishments. Bookings at country hotels (agroturismo) also registered higher levels in August, climbing from 56.44 percent in 2002 to 65.46 percent this year.
According to the Hoteliers' Federation, all the tourist areas of Majorca showed increased occupancy levels during August, with the exception of Palmanova-Magaluf where they fell two points; Pollensa also fell but only by a few decimal places, and so did Portals Nous but the drop there was by nearly 10 points. The highest levels of occupancy were registered in Santa Ponsa, with 97 percent, and Alcudia and Portocolom, both zones slightly above 96 percent.
Palma city, in spite of a rise of almost seven percent in occupancy levels in August, was the least popular spot in Majorca, with hotels barely 76 percent full. The statistics on occupancy were compiled from a selection of 940 hotels belonging to the Federation. A response was received from 278 or jusst under 30 percent. Although occupancy levels did not reach 100 percent, there were a few cases of overbooking in some areas during August.