The Bonaire Hotel and Tourism Association (BONHATA) works together with its accommodation members to keep track of key indicators for the tourism industry on Bonaire and provides quarterly performance updates. At present, the indicators tracked are:
- Occupancy Rate (OCC %): The percentage of occupied rooms at any given time compared to the total number of available rooms at that time
- Average Daily Rate (ADR $): Indicates the average revenue earned for an occupied room on a given day
- Revenue per Available Room (RevPar $): Represents the revenue generated per available room and is calculated by multiplying an accommodation’s average daily room rate (ADR) by its occupancy rate.
This third quarter update gives a view of the actual numbers for the months January until September 2023. This accommodation performance analysis reveals the following key insights:
First Quarter 2023:
The first quarter showcased a strong accommodation occupancy rate of 74%, coupled with an average daily rate of $239, resulting in a RevPAR of $180.
Second Quarter 2023:
During the second quarter, occupancy declined to 56%, while the average daily rate stood at $201, yielding a RevPAR of $112.
Third Quarter 2023:
The third quarter witnessed a decrease in occupancy to 54%, with an average daily rate of $197, leading to a RevPAR of $99.
Fourth Quarter 2023: (Forecast)
Projections for the fourth quarter anticipate an improvement in occupancy to 65%, accompanied by an average daily rate of $205, which is forecasted to result in a RevPAR of $128.
Comparisons 2019 & 2022
When compared to the years 2019 & 2022, it becomes evident that this year experienced a bit of a slowdown. Notably, the first quarter consistently emerges as the strongest period. However, Bonaire’s tourism cannot rely solely on a single season from December to March. Bonaire faces the challenge of relatively modest peak seasons contrasted with significantly lower off-peak periods. The overall occupancy rate barely reaches 65%, underscoring that Bonaire is operating on the edge.
This is particularly noteworthy when considering that a healthy overall occupancy rate, both on a global and regional scale, typically falls within the range of 70-80%. Additionally, it’s important to mention that these healthy occupancy rates are often accompanied by much higher RevPAR numbers than those currently observed on the island.
Below are the performance numbers for 2022 and 2019.
