Average room rates in upscale hotels and resorts across Vietnam saw a slight increase in 2014 even as occupancy rates decreased, according to a survey by auditing and consulting firm Grant Thornton.

The 2015 Vietnam Hotel Survey, released last week, covered 60 four – and five-star hotels and resorts.

It revealed a 0.2 percent increase in average room rates to 97.8 USD last year. While five-star hotels suffered a 6.4 percent point decrease, four-star hotels enjoyed a 3.6 percent increase.

By region, the central and Central Highlands saw the highest increase in room rates while Hanoi, Phan Thiet, and HCM City reported declines.

Average occupancy fell by 2 ppts to 60 percent, with four-star hotels having a fall of 3.6 ppts and five-star properties remaining stable at over 61 percent.

Though Vietnam did not achieve its target of eight million foreign arrivals, there were 7.87 million visitors, an increase of 4 percent.

The survey showed the ratio of foreign visitors to total guests staying in four – and five-star hotels rising by 3.4 ppts to around 83 percent.

RevPAR (revenue per available room), a standard industry measure of room utilisation and return, experienced a decrease of 1.8 percent to 59.31 USD, with the drop in average occupancy contributing to it.

Individual tourists and tour groups remained in the leading position as the source of guests staying at four – and five-star hotels, accounting for 35.3 and 26.3 percent respectively.

The number of business travellers shot up by 27.9 percent as they accounted for 18.8 percent of the total number of guests.

Conference tourist numbers dropped by 3.3 percent though Vietnam is considered a major MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) destination in Asia.

Hotel reservations through travel agents and tour operators decreased to 45.7 percent from 48 percent though this channel remained the most preferred method for all hotels and regions.

Direct booking with hotels increased by 16.1 percent and remained the second most popular method at 28.5 percent.

In 2015 the ASEAN Economic Community will be launched to bring greater integration between ASEAN member countries.

For tourism professionals and the industry, MRA-TP (Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals) will facilitate the mobility of tourism professionals based on tourism competencies and recognised skills.-VNA