Income from accommodation in April increased by 8.7% year on year (y/y)‚ data from Statistics SA (Stats SA) on Monday showed. Hotels contributed the most to the 8.7% increase‚ followed by other accommodation‚ and guest houses and guest farms. Income from accommodation for the quarter ended April increased by 12.5% compared with the three months ended April 2011‚ mainly on the back of an increase of 8.3% in the number of stay unit nights sold and an increase of 3.8% in the average income per stay unit nigh sold. The main contributor to the 12.5% increase was hotels; other accommodation; and guest houses and guest farms.

Total income (which includes income from accommodation‚ bar sales‚ restaurants and other income such as conferences) rose by 8.2% y/y in April. On a quarter-on-quarter basis‚ total income for the accommodation industry for the three months ended April 2012 increased by 11.3% compared with the three months ended April 2011. The number of stay units available in April lifted by 1.5% y/y in April‚ while the number of stay unit nights sold in the same period increased by 6.1%. - I-Net Bridge