Hotel-room occupancy hit a four-year high in August as sunny weather and an improving economy brought more overnight visitors to the city. Occupancy was at 87 per cent - the highest August total since the start of the global financial crisis took hold in 2008, Chemistry Consulting said in its monthly tourism bulletin.
Revenue per available room, a key indicator in hotel health, also improved to $127.24 - up more than $5 from the same month a year ago. Weather played a key role, according to Chemistry principal Frank Bourree, noting total precipitation was 1.6 millimetres, well below the norm of 24 mm. After eight months this year, room occupancy was 65 per cent, down about a half a point, while revenue per available room lagged $2.10.
Meanwhile, year-to-date passenger traffic at Victoria International Airport surpassed one million during August and is up 0.48 per cent over last year.
