SRS WORLDHOTELS has reported an increase in turnover for the first quarter of 1999 of more than 12.5% to $34m, compared to the same period last year.
The sales, marketing and reservations consortium said 224,474 room nights were sold in the first three months of the year – an 8.2% rise over the same period in 1998. Average room night rates rose to $153, compared with $146 in 1998.
The 365-hotel consortium says its greatest expansion was in the North and South American markets where the number of sold room nights rose by 16.9% to 97,008. In the Asia and Pacific region, it recorded a 20% growth which represents a significant increase over the marginal reductions reported in the first quarter of last year. SRS reported a slight increase in the number of bookings made electronically with a 1% boost to global distribution system reservations.
This brings GDS bookings to 84% of total reservations. The remaining 16% of bookings were made over the phone.