Room occupancy at record high for January

Latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) show that Northern Ireland hotels achieved a 42% increase in room sales in January 2017, pushing the annual average room occupancy level to 58%, a growth of 17 percentage points for the same period in 2016.

Across the wider accommodation sector, there was a 42% increase in bed spaces sold in the province’s hotels during January 2017 equating to 77,300 additional beds sold compared with January 2016.

Tourism NI chief executive John McGrillen said: “It is encouraging for the industry to see that the unprecedented occupancy and sales experienced by hotels during the latter half of 2016 has continued into 2017.

The increase in hotel bed sales is significant and is now almost 50% more than five years ago in January 2012.

“The Guesthouse and B&B sector also continued their growth into 2017, with room and bed sales one third higher than January 2016.

“The increase in demand during this time of year bodes well for another positive year for Northern Ireland tourism.”