Like other travel sectors such asaerial or the railThe global hotel industry is gradually returning to levels of activity that, while not reaching those of 2019, are well above those recorded last year. The results recently published by Accor, IHG and Hilton all bear witness to this. significant recoveryAnd there's no doubt that Marriott and Hyatt will soon be unveiling new models in the same vein.
In the third quarter, Hilton saw its RevPAR - a key industry indicator that combines hotel occupancy rates and average room rates - rise by +98.7 % over the period compared with 2020With sales now down by just -18.8 1Q3Q compared with the third quarter of 2019, Christopher Nassetta, Chairman of the Board, is pleased to report that the Group's sales are down by just -18.8 1Q3Q. As a result, Christopher Nassetta, the company's Chairman, is able to say " satisfied "of these results". which continue to reflect the recovery from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic" .
For its part, IHG is reporting an increase in revenue per room of 66 % compared with the same period in 2020. This result was achieved thanks to hotel occupancy hovering around 60 % and average prices in line with those for 2019. "RevPAR close to pre-pandemic levels thanks to the return of a growing number of customers to our hotels around the world" said Keith Barr, CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts.
Boosted by leisure customers, the summer season was favourable for many establishments. Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor, notes that his group's business was "very satisfactory". very strong this summer in Europe, the Middle East and America, particularly for our leisure destinations" .
The French group reports that its RevPAR improved by 20 points compared to the second quarter of this year. Strong demand for provincial hotels in France and the UK, lifestyle hotels in the US and a destination such as the United Arab Emirates has even led to an improvement in RevPAR. higher prices than in summer 2019.
Recovery driven by leisure travellers
As a result, the Group's sales for the third quarter of 2021 rose by +79 % to €589 million, although they were still -40% lower than those achieved in 2019 over the same period. Domestic tourism drove the recovery. As a result, Accor is seeing a decline in RevPAR of only -6% for its provincial establishments in France and the UK, while business in Paris and London remains half that of summer 2019.
This upturn was more marked across Southern Europe as a whole, with a significant improvement in RevPARThis was down by "only" -25% compared with the third quarter of 2019. In the same vein, the United States, which is still closed to international visitors until 8 November, is also showing good strength in local tourism, with IHG noting a RevPAR that is now only down 7% on 2019 across the Atlantic.
On the other hand, while Dubai and the United Arab Emirates have regained their appeal to tourists by limiting restrictions on arrival on their territory, the majority of Asian destinationssome of which are only just beginning to reopen, such as the Thailandundergo the absence of international travellers. In South-East Asia, for example, RevPAR fell by 72 1TP3Q in the third quarter.
The evolution of the pandemic in certain regions also had an impact on hotel results. While China had recovered more quickly than other countries, its RevPAR fell by 34 % in the third quarter due to the impact of the pandemic. resurgence of Covid-19 cases in July and August. Similarly, the introduction of lockdowns in Australia's main cities has penalised hoteliers in the Pacific zone.
A number of uncertainties still hang over the coming months, including the progress of vaccination campaigns and the resurgence of the pandemic in Eastern Europe. Nevertheless, hoteliers are generally optimistic. " The rate at which demand is returning is very encouraging as travel is increasingly being reopened in all regions"says Keith Barr. " The desire to travel is strong" says Sébastien Bazin, for whom " These trends are set to continue towards the end of the year. "
The gradual return of business customers is confirmed
While the third quarter was largely driven by leisure customers, the attitude of business customers, who will be important for business from the autumn onwards, was still unknown. On this point, hotel groups are reassured by the upturn in business travel. " The months of September and October confirm the return of business customers and MICE eventsdescribes the Accor group in its quarterly results announcement. The upturn in medium-sized corporate events offset some of the decline in leisure activities, confirming the recovery in business tourism. "
Developments in the Paris region are reassuring in this respect. Consulting firm MKG, for example, shows that Paris is back in the black, with its occupancy rate rising from 38.8 % in August to 55.7 % in September, with the upturn continuing in October in the capital and its entire region. As a result, occupancy levels in the Ile-de-France region, which were below 20 % at the start of the year, topped the 60 % mark.63 % for the week of 25 October. While Paris's top-of-the-range hotels were able to take advantage of Fashion Week, establishments in several major cities were also delighted with the return of key events such as the Pollutec and SIRHA trade shows in Lyon, the International Cybersecurity Forum in Lille and the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille. All good reasons to look forward to the months ahead with greater confidence.
