PATTAYA hoteliers are expecting healthy business this year, in light of good year-to-date occupancy, RevPAR and average rates so far.
Amari Orchid Pattaya general manager, David Cumming, said the hotel has been running at more than 90 per cent occupancy, and recorded an average growth of 16 per cent on room rates since January.
“We have just finished May with 91 per cent occupancy, while RevPAR grew by 49 per cent year-on-year,” he said.
According to Cumming, hotels in Pattaya normally run at 30 to 40 per cent occupancy during low season from April to September. “For Amari, the contrast between low and high seasons is fading,” he said.
Furama Jomtien Beach, Pattaya, recorded a year-to-date occupancy of 82 per cent – double last year’s performance – while average room rates also doubled, according to general manager, Tatcha Riddhimat.
Tatcha said the hotel was rebranded Furama in April last year. A new marketing strategy was also introduced to attract a mix of leisure and meeting business. The hotel is planning to beef up its sales and marketing team to grow its meetings business from 25 per cent now, to 30 per cent by year-end.
Centara Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya is also looking at tapping more meetings and events. When the hotel opened in November 2009, it had been concentrating on the leisure market and had to place meetings in the backseat, said its general manager Andre Brulhart.
Brulhart said the hotel ended its first year of operations in 2010 with “high 70” per cent occupancy. “This year, we hope to break that 80-per cent-occupancy barrier and raise average room rates by 10 per cent,” he said.
