Hotel occupancy figures have reached a 13-year high in Tasmania. Statistics from the Tasmanian Hospitality Association’s members reveal about 76 per cent of rooms were occupied in December, up almost 6 per cent from the year before.
Occupancy in the state’s south was at 84 per cent, up by 5 per cent, while the north jumped 7 per cent to 77 per cent and the north-west up 6 to 54.
But a fear shared by most operators was being squeezed out by private holiday rentals being spruiked online. The advent of websites like AirBNB and Stayz meant tourists were bypassing traditional hotels and motels for private alternatives.