Results of the telephone survey show that, during April this year, five star anticipated occupancy levels will be up from an average 62 per cent in April 2003 to 67 per cent this year, four star up from 63 per cent to 71 per cent and three star up from 72 per cent to 83 per cent. During Easter week, the overall increase in occupancy levels should increase from 63 per cent to 69 per cent.

This confirms what MHRA have been saying since last November that Quarter 2 of 2004 could see a turnaround for the industry, subject to international conditions remaining stable.

MHRA cautioned that while these average figures are encouraging one must keep in mind that within each segment there are properties, which have also not done so well.

In fact in the different hotel segments performance varied substantially. Within the five star market 83 per cent of properties said they fared better than last year, this compared to the four star market wherein 60 per cent said they fared better, 10 per cent the same and 30 per cent worse than last year. In the three star sector 67 per cent also fared better than last year.

Results from the restaurant membership base of the association has revealed that advanced booking for Easter Sunday lunch with the majority reporting that they expect a better turnout than last year. Twenty-two per cent of restaurant establishments interviewed reported that the higher end of the market will experience a slightly better performance with the remainder reporting the same expectations as last year. Fifty-seven per cent are expecting a full house.

In the second class and lower categories 31 per cent will experienced a slight drop in business, although most are expecting a good performance on the day due to the usual Easter Sunday lunch last minute bookings pattern. 19 per cent were expecting a higher turnout whilst the remainder (50 per cent) expects the same performance as last year.