Caribbean hoteliers are predicting a positive tourism performance for 2017.

Indeed, more than four out of five hoteliers in the Caribbean have an “encouraging” outlook for tourism this year, according to the results of the second annual CHTA Industry Performance and Outlook Study.

CHTA Director General and CEO said the survey, conducted by the CHTA, was undertaken “to assist the organization in gaining a better understanding of the state of the tourism economy, its outlook, and the degree to which a number of factors impact or may affect the tourism industry.”

The survey, administered during the first two weeks of this year, polled a representative sampling of hotels throughout the Caribbean of varying sizes and categories, and examined their 2016 performance and 2017 expectations for factors in areas such as employment levels, revenue, profits, capital spending, room occupancy, and rates, each forming the basis for assessing the state of the tourism economy.

In 2016, hoteliers reported an even split on revenue performance with 47 percent recording an increase and similar percentage reporting a decrease.

While expectations for the year were higher initially, last year’s mixed performance came after an exceptional year for Caribbean tourism in 2015.

“Hoteliers entered 2016 with high performance expectations but these were tempered as a combination of unanticipated factors surfaced during the year,” Comito said.

These events included a warmer than usual winter in the region’s primary feeder markets, Canadian and U.K. exchange rates, Brexit, the threat of Zika, and political and economic certainty in parts of the world, according to the survey respondents.

Despite these challenges, the profitability picture improved over the previous year, with most hotels registering a net profit in 2016.

Seventy-eight percent of respondents reported a net profit while 22 percent reported a net loss.

Looking ahead for 2017, more than two-thirds anticipate an increase in revenue, and 56 percent expect a slight improvement in profits.

About 55 percent of hotels also increased capital expenditures in 2016, with a quarter of those investing more than 10 percent over what they did in 2015.

“This is a positive sign and an indication of long-term confidence by Caribbean hoteliers in the industry,” said Comito.

Although room occupancy decreased for just over half of the reporting hotels, a notable proportion reported an increase in occupancy.

More hoteliers are optimistic for 2017, with two-thirds expecting an increase in occupancy.

Despite the fact that average daily room rates were reduced by 45 percent of hotels, as many of 42 percent increased their rates.

This year, approximately 55 percent of hoteliers expect to increase ADR while only 15 percent expect downward on rates.

The CHTA added it is important to note that employment levels were maintained by 55 percent of survey respondents in 2016, while only 17 percent reduced staffing levels and a sizable proportion hired more staff– a pattern which anticipated to continue in 2017.

— Dana Niland, CJ Contributor