Hotel occupancy dips, expected to decrease again because of weather forecast

As the summer season comes to a close, the hotel, hotel-condo and campgrounds occupancy rate for this past week dipped slightly, according to the latest data from the clay Brittain Jr. Center Resort Tourism.

 

It is expected to decrease again because of a forecast of high rainfall caused by Hurricane Bill this weekend.

 

The midweek occupancy rate for the week of August 9 was 82.4 percent, down 3.7 occupancy points from last week, according to the data. The weekend occupancy rate was 95.1 percent, down 1.4 occupancy points from the August 14 weekend.

 

The revenue per available unit, or the amount of money that hoteliers can make from each night's stay, was down 3 percent compared to this time last year.

 

For this upcoming weekend, the Brittain Center is predicting the hotel occupancy rate to be near or above 65 percent and 40 to 45 percent during the week.

 

The weekend estimation is nearly 5 occupancy points below the same time last year since weather.com is forecasting a 50 to 60 percent chance of rainfall this weekend, officials said.