Gross room revenue increased by 2 percent, number of tourism nights stagnated

In the first seven months of 2008, the room occupancy rate for three-, four- and five-star hotels was 56 percent. At current prices.

During this period, gross ARR (Average
Room Rate) was HUF 17 400 (Euro 70). This index was outstandingly high (HUF 36 000 i.e. 144
Euro) in the five star hotels of Budapest. Four-star hotels of
Budapest as well as four- and five-star hotels of rural areas, on
average, enforced room rates of HUF 13 300-17 300 (53–69 Euro);
while the surveyed three star establishments had average room rates
of HUF 8800-10 800 (35–43 Euro).

Average daily REVPAR (revenue per
available room) was gross HUF 9 800. The highest (HUF 23 400) amount was achieved by the five
star hotels of Budapest, the lowest (HUF 4300) amount was reported by
the three star establishments of Western Hungary.

On the whole, gross room revenue
increased by 2 percent at current prices. Considerably higher increases were registered by the three
star hotels operating on the Balaton lakeshore, while the three star
establishments of Eastern and Western Hungary experienced a decline.

In January-July 2008, the number of
tourism nights was unchanged in the observed units compared with the same period a year ago. At
Lake Balaton, three star hotels were characterized by the growing
number of tourism nights. In other hotels the number of overnight
stays generally decreased or was unchanged.

In the observed period, all hotel
categories of Budapest experienced occupancy rates over 59 percent,
while rural hotels had rates of 45-61 percent.

The forint was weak in the first three
months of this year, and was strong in the summer. The exchange rate
fluctuated between HUF 229 and 266 / Euro.