Category: Hotels

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October boost for accommodation – Stats NZ Media and Information Release: Accommodation survey: October 2018

October boost for accommodation – 17 December 2018

Guests spent more nights in hotels, motels, and holiday parks in October, Stats NZ said today.

Overall guest nights rose 3.9 percent in October 2018 compared with October 2017, helped by more nights spent in hotels, motels, and holiday parks. However, fewer nights were spent in backpackers than last October, down 2.1 percent.


Annual backpacker guest nights have been tapering off since a peak in the year ended December 2017. Nights spent in backpackers fell 1.7 percent in the year ended October 2018 from the previous October year.

“Since the annual high for backpacker nights in 2017, nights have dropped off the most in the West Coast and Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman regions, while nights in Canterbury and Waikato have risen,” acting accommodation and constructions statistics manager Dave Adair said.

Falling guest nights can be influenced by a variety of factors, typically by guests spending fewer nights in accommodation, but also by businesses shutting down or changing the type of accommodation they offer. Accommodation type changes can include a backpacker becoming a hotel or motel, or by converting to long-term accommodation, which is excluded from the survey.

Total guest nights continued to reach record levels at 40.2 million in the year ended October 2018, up 2.6 percent from the October 2017 year. Hotels, motels, and holiday parks recorded increases, up 3.9 percent, 0.8 percent, and 5.8 percent respectively.

The Accommodation Survey collects data for guests staying in short-term commercial accommodation such as hotels, motels, backpackers, and holiday parks. Hosted and private accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts and holiday homes, are excluded.

For more information about these statistics:

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Record annual guest nights surpass 40 million – Stats NZ Media and Information Release: Accommodation survey: September 2018

Record annual guest nights surpass 40 million – 12 November 2018

Nights spent in short-term commercial accommodation set a new record in the year ended September 2018, surpassing 40 million guest nights for the first time, Stats NZ said today.

Annual guest nights exceeded 30 million in the year ended July 2004, and were over 20 million in the year ended June 1997, when annual records began.


“Since guest nights reached 30 million 14 years ago, hotels have led the growth, accounting for more than a third of all guest nights in 2018,” accommodation statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said.

“Annually, guests spent more nights in hotels than motels for the first time in 2008, when motel nights dipped during the global financial crisis. Since then hotels have consistently been the largest provider of short-term commercial guest nights in New Zealand.”

Annual guest nights in Queenstown–Lakes district grew the most in the last 14 years. Following the Canterbury earthquakes (2010/11), Queenstown–Lakes district took over from Christchurch as the second largest territorial authority area for guest nights.

“Guest nights spent in Queenstown–Lakes district are now approaching levels seen in central Auckland,” Ms McKenzie said.

In the month of September 2018, total guest nights rose 2.9 percent, compared with September 2017.

The Accommodation Survey collects data for guests staying in short-term commercial accommodation such as hotels, motels, backpackers, and holiday parks. Hosted and private accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts and holiday homes, are excluded.

For more information about these statistics:

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Hotels, motels, and holiday parks more popular than ever – Stats NZ Media and Information Release: Accommodation survey: August 2018

Hotels, motels, and holiday parks more popular than ever – 10 October 2018

People spent a record number of nights at hotels, motels, and holiday parks in the August 2018 year, but nights spent at backpackers fell, Stats NZ said today.

“Most accommodation types have seen growth in the past year, except for backpackers – where guest nights have fallen,” accommodation statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said.

“Almost 40 million nights were spent at short-term commercial accommodation in New Zealand, in the year ended August,” Ms McKenzie said. “Guest nights spent at hotels have more than doubled in the past 20 years and are now the most popular type of accommodation.”

In the 12 months ended August 2018 compared with the August 2017 year, the number of guest nights were:

  • 14 million at hotels, up 3.6 percent
  • 12 million at motels, up 0.9 percent
  • 8 million at holiday parks, up 6.2 percent
  • 5 million at backpackers, down 1.6 percent.

The areas with the strongest growth in guest nights in the past year were Christchurch, Queenstown-Lakes, and Rotorua. Auckland region’s guest nights fell 1.4 percent following a record August 2017 year.

Hosted and private accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts and holiday homes, are not included in these statistics.

Guest nights up in August month mainly due to North Island

More Kiwis staying in commercial accommodation in the North Island caused guest nights to increase 3.4 percent in the August 2018 month compared with August 2017. This followed a relatively flat August 2017 (down 0.3 percent from August 2016), which was dampened by fewer domestic guest nights in the North Island.

For more information about these statistics:

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Guest nights flat in July as international nights fall – Stats NZ Media and Information Release: Accommodation survey: July 2018

Guest nights flat in July as international nights fall – 12 September 2018

A 3.4 percent drop in international guest nights contributed to a quiet month for short-term commercial accommodation in July 2018, Stats NZ said today.

Total guest nights were relatively unchanged in July 2018, up 0.1 percent from July 2017. A 2.4 percent increase in the number of nights Kiwis spent in accommodation only just offset a 3.4 percent fall in international nights.


“This July’s decrease in international guest nights follows July peaks in both 2017 and 2016. The increase in July 2017 had coincided with the tail end of the Lions tour,” accommodation statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said.

See July guest nights up 1.4 percent on a year ago.

In annual terms, international guest nights are still up. In the 12 months to July 2018, international guests spent 17.5 million nights in accommodation (up 3.5 percent from the July 2017 year), while domestic guests spent 22.4 million nights (up 1.4 percent).

Guests spent a total of 39.9 million nights in short-term commercial accommodation, up 2.3 percent from the July 2017 year.

The accommodation survey collects data for guests staying in short-term commercial accommodation such as hotels, motels, backpackers, and holiday parks. Hosted and private accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts and holiday homes, are excluded.

For more information about these statistics:

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More visitors from Australia in July – Stats NZ Media and Information Release: International visitor arrivals to New Zealand: July 2018

More visitors from Australia in July – 23 August 2018

More visitors arrived from Australia in July compared with the same month in 2017, Stats NZ said today.

The increase in visitors from Australia in July coincided with the ski season in New Zealand. It also brought the total number of visitors to New Zealand in July 2018 to 250,500, up 3,600 from July 2017.

Total visitor numbers were up 1.4 percent from the same month last year with the biggest changes from:

  • Australia up 3,600 to 122,000
  • United Kingdom down 2,800 to 8,300
  • United States up 900 to 16,200.

“The drop from the UK reflects the continuing effects seen last month, reversing the boost seen in 2017 as a result of the Lions rugby tour,” population insights senior manager Brooke Theyers said.

Ski season sparks surge in holidaymakers

Holidaymaking was the most popular travel purpose in July 2018, up 4,000 to 122,100 from July 2017.


Australia led the increase in holidaymakers, up 3,800 to 57, 500. This coincided with the ski season in New Zealand, some big South Island ski fields opening earlier than usual, and their recent promotional efforts across the Tasman.

There were 51,100 visitors from Australia who flew into Queenstown and Christchurch airports in July, compared with 48,400 in July last year.

Annual visitor numbers up 3.6 percent

Visitor arrivals for the year ended July 2018 were up 3.6 percent (133,200) to 3.79 million. By region, New Zealand had the most number of visitors from Oceania (dominated by Australia) at 1.64 million (up 22,700). Changes in the number of visitor arrivals from other regions were:

  • Asia up 98,300 to 1.03 million, led by China (up 47,800)
  • Europe down 10,900 to 560,900, led by the United Kingdom (down 14,000)
  • Americas up 27,900 to 471,500, led by the United States (up 14,600)
  • Africa and the Middle East up 1,100 to 50,700, led by Saudi Arabia (up 400).

For more information about these statistics:

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International guest nights fall from Lions tour high – Stats NZ Media and Information Release: Accommodation survey: June 2018

International guest nights fall from Lions tour high – 10 August 2018

International guest nights fell 8.2 percent in June 2018 compared with June 2017, when the Lions rugby tour boosted guest nights, Stats NZ said today.

Falling international guest nights caused a 1.8 percent decrease in total guest nights spent in short-term commercial accommodation, compared with June 2017.

The Lions tour boost to international guest nights was most obvious in the Auckland and Wellington regions last June. This June both regions recorded decreases.

“June is typically a quiet month for short-term commercial accommodation,” accommodation statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said.

“This helped make both the Lions tour boost in 2017, and the subsequent fall in 2018, more visible than if it had been over a busier period.

“If we ignore the Lions peak in 2017, international guest nights are up 4.8 percent in June 2018 compared with June 2016.”


Falls in international guest nights coincided with fewer international visitor arrivals from the United Kingdom and Ireland, as visitor arrivals came off peaks in 2017 driven by the Lions tour (see Visitor numbers retreat in June).

In the 12 months to June 2018, 39.9 million guest nights were spent in short-term commercial accommodation, up 2.4 percent from the previous June year. This followed increases of 3.7 percent in the June 2017 year and 5.8 percent in the June 2016 year.  

The accommodation survey collects data for guests staying in short-term commercial accommodation such as hotels, motels, backpackers, and holiday parks. Hosted and private accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts and holiday homes, are excluded.

For more information about these statistics:

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Guest nights up 1.6 percent in May – Stats NZ Media and Information Release: Accommodation survey: May 2018

Guest nights up 1.6 percent in May – 11 July 2018

Over 2.5 million nights were spent in commercial accommodation in May 2018, Stats NZ said today. This number is up 1.6 percent from May 2017.

“This month’s increase builds on the stronger guest night growth we saw last May, when it rose 7.3 percent from May 2016,” accommodation statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said.

“May is typically one of the quieter months for accommodation providers, as we head into cooler months,” Ms McKenzie said. “This contrasts with the summer peak, when nearly twice as many guest nights are spent in commercial accommodation.”

The growth in total guest nights was driven by more domestic guest nights spent in accommodation across New Zealand, and more international guest nights in the South Island. Together these increases offset a fall in international guest nights in the North Island.

The accommodation survey collects data for guests staying in short-term commercial accommodation such as hotels, motels, backpackers, and holiday parks. Hosted and private accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts and holiday homes, are excluded.

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Statistics New Zealand Guest nights cool in April – Accommodation survey: April 2018

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Guest nights cool in April – 13 June 2018

Guest nights fell 0.9 percent in April 2018, to 3.43 million, Stats NZ said today.

This compares with 3.46 million in April 2017, which was boosted by the timing of Easter that year.

“Easter fell partly in March this year, which boosted March statistics but had a dampening effect on April,” accommodation statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said.

“April 2017 was a bumper month, with Easter weekend coinciding with Anzac day and school holidays. This year these events were more spread out.”

In April 2018, guest nights fell 5.4 percent in the North Island and rose 5.5 percent in the South Island when compared with April 2017.

When the movement of the Easter holiday and other seasonal effects are accounted for, guest nights rose 2.3 percent in April 2018 from March 2018.

The accommodation survey collects data for guests staying in short-term commercial accommodation such as hotels, motels, backpackers, and holiday parks. Hosted and private accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts and holiday homes, are excluded.
For more information about these statistics:

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Visitor numbers down, but arrivals from China continue to grow – Statistics New Zealand

Source: Statistics New Zealand

In the April 2018 month, visitor arrivals fell 28,000 to 283,900, compared with April last year, Stats NZ said today. As reported in International travel and migration: April 2018, this fall was due to a record April month last year and seasonal changes in the holidays.

As most international arrivals tend to come in through Auckland, Auckland Airport was the most affected with visitor arrivals falling 22,200 to 204,300 for the month. Changes for the other main airports were as follows:

Christchurch (down 1,200 to 43,100)
Wellington (down 1,600 to 16,500)
Queenstown (down 1,000 to 18,600).

Arrivals from China continue to rise

Visitors from China were the exception to these downward movements; visitor numbers for the April month were up 7,200 from April 2017 to 46,500.

This month’s visitor numbers from China were boosted by an incentive-based scheme launched by Amway China. This scheme was secured by Destination Queenstown, Tourism New Zealand, Immigration New Zealand, and Air New Zealand as an initiative to help boost tourist numbers in the shoulder season.

Arrival numbers from China had an average annual growth of 18 percent since the April 2012 year – growing from 168,200 in the April 2012 year to 444,900 in the April 2018 year.

Australia still on top
Despite the rapid growth in arrivals from China, Australia is still by far the largest single contributor to visitor numbers. Over 1.47 million visitors arrived from Australia in the April 2018 year, up 41,500 from the previous April year and accounting for almost 40 percent of all international visitor arrivals:

Auckland Airport took the majority of these Australian visitors (58 percent), accounting for 848,500 of all arrivals from Australia (up 9,600 from last year).
Christchurch Airport was next with 260,000 (up 21,200).
Queenstown Airport saw 197,900 arrivals (up 17,600).
Wellington Airport had 152,000 arrivals (down 7,400).
Dunedin and other airports and seaports accounted for the remaining 16,200 arrivals (up 500 from last year).

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Holiday parks hopping for early Easter – Statistics New Zealand

Source: Statistics New Zealand

An early Easter helped lift holiday park guest nights by 25 percent in March 2018 – there were 188,000 more guest nights than the same month in 2017, Stats NZ said today.

“Two days of the Easter weekend falling in March this year was the most significant driver of guest night increases when compared with March 2017,” accommodation statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said. “Warm weather in March may have also been a factor.”

Total guest nights, including all accommodation types, rose 8.0 percent in March 2018 compared with the quieter March 2017, when the Easter holiday fell completely in April.

When the movement of the Easter holiday and other seasonal effects are accounted for, guest nights rose 0.7 percent in March 2018 from February 2018.

Holiday parks led the increase in guest nights. Kiwis spent 135,000 more nights in holiday park accommodation and international guests spent 52,000 more nights than the previous March.

“Holiday park guest nights often spike and fall in the months of March and April due to the movement of Easter. This month’s increase is similar to what was seen in March 2016, when all of Easter fell in the month,” Ms McKenzie said.

In the 12 months to March 2018, nights spent in holiday park accommodation numbered 8.2 million – 8.9 percent higher than the previous March year.

The accommodation survey collects data for guests staying in short-term commercial accommodation such as hotels, motels, backpackers, and holiday parks. Hosted and private accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts and holiday homes, are excluded.