City hotels still quiet; domestic holidaymakers boosted the coasts...

The Association of Turkish Hoteliers (TÜROB) announced that average occupancy rates across Turkey were recorded at 31.4 percent. There was no notable increase at city hotels, more than half of which—Istanbul foremost among them—are still closed. At the holiday resorts on the coasts, where a large portion of hotels also remain closed, occupancy rates came in within the 40-50 percent band.

As the domestic-tourism-driven movement that began in tourism continued in July as well, average occupancy rates across Turkey were recorded at 31.4 percent. There was no notable increase at city hotels, more than half of which—Istanbul foremost among them—are still closed. According to data obtained from the open hotels in the coastal regions, a large portion of which also remain closed, occupancy rates at the holiday resorts on the coasts came in on average within the 40-50 percent band. The Association of Turkish Hoteliers (TÜROB) announced hotel occupancy rates for July. According to the 'July Destination Performance Report' prepared for TÜROB by STR, the global data and analytics company, Turkey's hotel occupancy rates in July 2020 fell by 58.4 percent compared to the same month of 2019, declining to 31.4 percent.

In July, the average daily rate of rooms sold, expressed as ADR (Average Daily Rate), came in at 82.7 Euros, a decrease of 15.7 percent. Revenue per available room (RevPAR), based on the total number of rooms and considered the most important revenue item of the accommodation sector, declined by 64.9 percent to 26.0 Euros.

Over the 7-month period covering January–July 2020, Turkey's occupancy rate stood at 33.0 percent, a decrease of 49.3 percent; the average daily rate of rooms sold stood at 61.2 Euros, a decrease of 17.3 percent; and revenue per available room stood at 20.1 Euros, a decrease of 58.3 percent.

The situation in Europe

In July 2020, the average occupancy of European destinations stood at 34.2 percent, a decrease of 56.6 percent, while the average room price was determined at 93.6 Euros, a decrease of 21.6 percent, and room revenue at 32.0 Euros, a decrease of 66 percent.

Istanbul stirred, but…

The activity on the coasts has not yet been reflected in city hotels, foremost among them Istanbul. More than 50 percent of the hotels in Istanbul that temporarily suspended their operations still have not been able to reopen. According to data obtained from the hotels that are open, occupancy rates were measured at 26 percent, a decrease of 68.2 percent compared to the same month of last year. In July 2019, average occupancy in Istanbul had been 81.7 percent. The average daily rate of rooms sold fell by 29.9 percent compared to 2019 to 71.1 Euros. In July 2019, this figure had been 101.5 Euros. Revenue per available room experienced a 77.1 percent decline compared to last year and was measured at 18.4 Euros. In July 2019, this figure had been 82.9 Euros.

In Istanbul, over the first 7 months, the occupancy rate stood at 35.4 percent, a decrease of 50.3 percent; the average daily rate of rooms sold stood at 71.7 Euros, a decrease of 16.7 percent; and revenue per available room stood at 25.4 Euros, a decrease of 58.6 percent.

Occupancy in Antalya 42.7 percent

In Antalya, too, a significant portion of hotels are still closed. According to data obtained from the hotels that are open, occupancy in Antalya, which was 77.4 percent in July 2019, fell by 44.8 percent to 42.7 percent in July 2020. The average daily rate of rooms sold came in at 160.2 Euros, a decrease of 1.1 percent. Revenue per available room experienced a 45.4 percent decline compared to last year and was measured at 68.4 Euros.

In Antalya, over the first 7 months, occupancy rates declined to 33.7 percent, a decrease of 46.8 percent compared to the same period of last year; the average daily rate of rooms sold to 69.4 Euros, a decrease of 16.0 percent; and revenue per available room to 23.4 Euros, a decrease of 55.3 percent.

City hotels in trouble

In her assessment regarding July occupancy rates, TÜROB President Müberra Eresin said: "A domestic-tourism-driven movement continued as of July. With the effect of the Eid al-Adha period as well, occupancy rates increased. However, these figures were compiled from the data of city hotels and of the hotels that are open in the coastal regions. We point out that a large portion of both the city hotels and the hotels in the coastal regions still have not been able to commence operations. This difficulty is being experienced more deeply in Istanbul. More than 50 percent of the hotels in Istanbul that temporarily suspended their operations still have not been able to reopen."

THE TREND OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY RATES AND PRICES BY YEAR