Hotel industry expects Golden Week occupancy to top 90%

The hotel industry expects occupancy rates to exceed 90% during the upcoming National Day Golden Week, with the seven-day holiday beginning Oct. 1 and the industry already prepared to welcome visitors.

According to Cheung Kin Chung, president of the Macau Hoteliers and Innkeepers Association, this year’s mainland National Day holiday is adjacent to the Mid-Autumn Festival, extending the holiday period beyond the usual seven days.

He expects average daily visitor arrivals during the National Day Golden Week to potentially exceed last year’s level of 143,000.

Cheung said overall hotel booking conditions in Macau are currently relatively strong, with the booking rate for hotels in the NAPE area at about 80%, and visitors generally booking two to three nights. He noted that room rates have risen during the peak season, but the increase is reasonable.

Booking figures are expected to continue rising, with the overall occupancy rate possibly exceeding 90%, he said. Oct. 1-5 will see the peak period, with some hotels’ occupancy rates possibly nearing 100%.

Cheung believes that during the National Day period, visitors to Macau will have greater demand for accommodation and tourism experiences, with family travelers accounting for a relatively high proportion. He said the industry needs to focus on family needs and provide services such as parent-child activities and safety measures to enhance guest satisfaction.

He also called for greater cross-sector integration to provide one-stop leisure experiences and for using technology to improve visitor experiences and operational efficiency.