0 Low occupancy rate prompts modest meeting

The Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) Bali chapter held its annual meeting in modest fashion on Wednesday. The meeting did not take place in a hotel’s convention facility but in a simple meeting room at the office of another association. The budget for snacks and meals for the meeting was also trimmed down. PHRI Bali chapter chairman Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati said the modesty reflected the current mood of the association. 

“We are deeply concerned by the low occupancy rate experienced by the association’s members in 2012 and the way we’ve organized this meeting reflects that concern,” he said. Sukawati disclosed that the number of foreign and domestic tourists visiting the island kept increasing by the year, yet occupancy rates were declining. He blamed the decrease on the increasing availability of rooms and the continued development of new hotels. Sukawati also serves as the regent of Gianyar. The Law on regional autonomy stipulates that the regent has the authority to approve or reject applications for new hotel licenses.

source : bali daily