Hotels in the Czech Republic: demand growth in 2010

Prague Monitor edition, referring to the Statistical Office of the Czech Republic, reported that in the third quarter of 2010 the occupancy of hotel rooms in the Czech Republic increased by 0.7% compared with the same period last year and means 14.1 million people.

The total number of guests staying in the Czech hotels grew by 2.7% compared with the third quarter of the last year and reached 4.4 million. There is a tendency to increasing of the number of foreign visitors (7% growth) with simultaneous decrease in the number of citizens who choose to stay overnight in the hotels (0.7% decrease). Foreign guests are mostly Germans (despite the decline in their share by 4.9%), who are followed by the citizens of the Russian Federation (36.3%), USA (15.3%) and France (12.1 %).

The most significant growth in occupancy is observed in the upper segment of the hotel market. In the five-star hotels it increased by 17.4% and in four-star hotels by 10.9%. The number of guests has increased by 17.2% and 15.6% respectively. As for the geographical aspect, the greatest increase is observed in Prague hotels, and the lowest rates are in the Usti region (North Bohemia).

Overall occupancy of hotels in the Czech Republic during the third quarter of this year is amounted to 49.3%. The best indicators are shown by five-star hotels, where occupancy reached 64.1% (+12%). A small increase in the flow of visitors was observed among pensions, but in general its occupancy rate was 31.2% (+0.2%).

Spa hotels were visited by 2.1 million people, which is for 2.7% more than last year. However, attendance by foreigners rose by 3.9%, and increase of visitors among the locals is 2%. However, in the Karlovy Vary region, where are located more than half of the spa complexes, was an increase of 14.9% and 12.2% among nationals and foreigners, respectively.

Statistical data is confirmed by the results of monitoring conducted by KPMG agency. According to the organization average occupancy of three-, four-and five-star hotels in the third quarter of 2010 is amounted to 62,8%, which is for 5% higher than last year. Basically, the growth of the number of guests, according to experts, has been achieved by reducing the price of accommodation. The number of bookings made by online booking systems is growing. Now the figure has exceeded 15%.