Embargoed until 10:45am – 11 July 2008
Hotel guest nights increase in May
Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation increased 5 percent in May 2008 compared with May 2007,
Statistics New Zealand said today. Hotels contributed most of the increase, up 67,000 or 10 percent. Backpackers/hostels
were also up 10 percent, with an increase of 30,000 guest nights.
In May 2008, eight of the 12 regions had more guest nights. Auckland had the largest increase, up 40,000 guest nights,
followed by Wellington and Canterbury, both up 22,000. The other regional increases or decreases were relatively small.
Domestic guest nights were 1.3 million in May 2008, which was 63 percent of total guest nights.
International guest nights were 0.8 million. Auckland and Canterbury were the top two regions for both domestic and
international guest nights.
Geoff Bascand
Government Statistician
11 July 2008
ENDS
There is a companion Hot Off The Press information release published – Accommodation Survey: May 2008 (PDF).