STR: The initial impact of coronavirus on hotel occupancy in China during CNY

Industry analytics firm STR has released data measuring the initial impact of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) on hotel occupancy in Mainland China over the Chinese New Year period, 14-26 January 2020. The results show a decline of 75%. 

Jesper Palmqvist, STR’s Area Director – Asia Pacific, described the trend, which goes against the grain for a period that traditionally records an uptick a property’s average daily rate (ADR).

“The Chinese New Year holiday week, extended by three days this year, normally sees a significant shift in travel patterns across the country with very specific hotel occupancy movements. This is due to less business travel, school closings and many individuals who return home to spend the holiday with family. At the same time, it is normal to see ADR rise during the time of the holiday. What our preliminary analysis shows this year is that performance changes were even greater as coverage of the coronavirus outbreak has intensified.”

Mainland China’s occupancy reached 70% on 14 January, but fell to a lower absolute level each day thereafter. On the final day of STR’s analysis (26 January), occupancy dropped to just 17%, meaning that eight of 10 rooms on average were left unoccupied. ADR began to increase on 19 January and reached a monthly high of CNY754 on 26 January, which represented a 61% increase from the 19th of the month.

Since 2015, Mainland China’s occupancy has fallen to an absolute level of roughly 55% during the week of Chinese New Year. Data from a shortened holiday week period in 2020 (24-26 January) showed average occupancy of 22%. ADR, usually between CNY650-CNY700 for the holiday week, reached a preliminary average of CNY711. That 2020 preliminary occupancy figure represented a 71% decline from the comparable time period last year, while ADR was up 10%.

“While it is understandable to look for comparisons with the SARS outbreak that began in 2002, it is important to consider the significant differences in the market over the last two decades,” Palmqvist said. “Dependence on smartphone technology, the widespread use of social media, significant differences in hotel inventory, greater volume in international arrivals to Mainland China and overall economic conditions make it difficult to use that previous outbreak as an indicator this time around. There is also greater potential for hotel performance impact in other markets around the world because of the increase in Chinese outbound travellers.”