Hoteliers facing difficult summer
Saturday 8th August 2009, 3:00PM BST.
Renzo Martin: 'Business not as good as last year'
JERSEY’S hospitality industry is having an ‘extremely challenging’ summer, but certainly not a disastrous one, according to industry figures.
Figures released by Tourism show that 71 per cent of hotel and guest house rooms have been sold for August, with that figure set to rise to 85 per cent by the end of the month.
David de Carteret, the director of Tourism and Marketing, said that it was roughly the same figure as last year and added that he expected more people to book last-minute accommodation in the run-up to the Battle of Flowers.
But hoteliers, including Renzo Martin, who owns the Dolphin and Moorings Hotel in Gorey, said that business was not as good as last year, with bookings up to ten per cent down for August. ‘Holidays at home are the favourite pastime at the moment for people who have less money to spend,’ he said. ‘We are 75 per cent full, but would like to see that go up to 100 per cent.’
However, other hotels including the Royal Yacht Hotel, reported an 80 per cent occupancy rate for August while the Metropole Hotel is more than two thirds full this month.
Robert Jones, the president of Jersey’s Hospitality Association, said that the season had not been as bad as predicted six months ago.
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for the last ten years the states of Jersey has turned their back on tourism. we do not have a tourism minister but we do have a tourism department that spends more than six million pounds a year! i believe that money would be better spent subsidising the airport and harbour fees and leaving the marketing to the jersey buisnesses.
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I agree, I am fed up seeing our tourism budget wasted advertising Jersey to people who are already coming to Jersey. This does not mean the advertising worked, just because the people who were coming here anyway saw the advertising.
Can we also have a clarification of “sold” as many rooms are pre sold to travel companies which does not mean they are occupied.
I am not less worried after this article but more worried if David de Carteret thinks this season is as good as last season we have trouble at the top.
Statistics can be made to say anything it is my gut feeling this season is a disaster, I await another carefully worded press release with manipulated statistics later this year to show tourism are doing a good Job and this season was a success after all we have never had a bad season.
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Gino, without the 6 million from Jersey Tourism local Jersey businesses wouldn’t be able to afford to market themselves, so unless you work in Hospitality Marketing and know the full story you don’t really have the right to make comments like that!
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in response to SJ. six million pounds is a lot of money and my point about air and sea travel does make sense. If the tourism department published detailed accounts and l do mean every invoice, then perpahaps we could make a valued judgement.,
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I do not understand why everyone is so obssessed with tourism. After the war all our most attractive bays had ugly hotels built many are now even more unattractive flats. Few locals work in the low paid jobs created, hence the huge immigration that has taken place.
We need to get real, Jersey is expensive, holidays are still far cheaper in other, warmer and more interesting parts of the world.
Tourism is going to decline as unemployment increases in the UK – our main market and Europe – if you have no job you are unlikely to go on holiday
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have paid less money to stay in Spain for a week (all Inclusive) than it costs to spend 3 nights in Jersey
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To Anon
Yes it is cheaper in spain and warmer but spain is also cheaper and warmer than London or Bath or many other tourist hot spots remember Jersey get over 340,000 paying visitors a year that is more than Antigua. They spend over £300 million here without them jersey would have very few flights off the islands very few restaurants and pubs and far few shops. Everything would get more expensive as you ship in less on less flights and boats
We should all be proud of our tourism market and work to make it grow. As it benefits us all.
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To tom h (comment 7)Not sure I agree with Jersey being cheaper or warmer than London but we won’t haggle over that one!However I have just returned from a few days in the Lake District (weather not guaranteed much like Jersey)but the place was heaving.We saw families enjoying all the watersports and attractions and having a great holiday within their own country without the huge expense of air travel.I am fortunate as when I wish to return to Jersey to see family or friends I can more or less pick my time when the fares are more reasonable but for families tied to the school breaks I think the cost is a big problem.
Tourism should be supported I agree- but it will never be like “the old days” when it was regarded almost like a foreign destination.People are far more adventurous and selective these days and most want value for money.
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Sorry Tom-just realised that you didn’t say Jersey was warmer than London-I should read slower in future!!
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I see david de carteret is still spinning a yarn,does he possess a crystal ball i wonder.Most of my old friends are hoteliers,and are not sure how long that they can survive in this business,but david de carteret,still appears to live on another island.where does he obtain his facts from? I would love to know.he does not need to worry,he receives a very nice monthly wage.I think maybe he should apply to become the next first minister.he does show to have the right qualifications.
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Something needs to be done about landing taxes at Jersey airport. I’m originally from Southampton & recently went home to visit my mum. Whilst sat in the departure lounge at Southampton, I noticed a FlyBe advert offering flights to Alicante & Malaga for cheaper prices than my Jersey ticket. It’s an absolute scandal! Until prices of flights are addressed, people will continue to look elsewhere
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I have to agree with Anon # 6 and Julie # 8 – Jersey is expensive. I am returning to the Island after an absence of eight years to visit my elderly parents and was amazed at the cost of accommodation, flights etc. I imagine I’ll also be amazed at the costs in restaurants etc., plus all the changes with buildings being pulled down and new ones being put up.
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We need tourists and it is our own fault for entrusting a commercial activity, ie marketing, to civil servants who earn the same dosh win lose or draw, and have spun the figures for the longest time. We have read in the JEP arrivals up etc,when any hotelier or cafe owner knew it was rubbish…Privatise it now
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I came over here 25 years ago as a guitar player for one of the hotels. 7 nights a week guaranteed, great atmosphere, cheap drinks/cigarettes etc. The Island was packed! It’s ok giving % this and % that but there are probably only a third of the hotels now as there were back in ’84. “Had a laugh at the “more than Antigua” comment (7) have you been to Antigua? sun and more sun that’s it”. Your proud of tourism 7??? then that’s one person, anyone else??? 2009, no summer seasonal work for me, I do odd gigs and for the same money as I earned in 1984! explain that one! The usual excuse I get from my employers is “Well yours is not a real job is it???” Well is it??? Maybe I should wait on tables or behind a bar? That’s seems to be the latest comment from the “Boys Club” probably more money in that.
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I would,nt encourage anyone to visit here, the place is a dump along with it,s weather!
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Well lets face it some of the hotels/guest house are not suitable for holiday makers, they are old fashioned and not a joy to stay in as they are out dated, also Jersey is far too expensive to eat out and lets face that also some of the places are away overpriced and you leave still hungrey, the service leaves alot to be desired….So Jersey Tourism spend some time going to ALL hotels and Guest Houses summing up what can actually be done to save tourism and also go to the resturants. The behaviour of the youngster doesn’t help either and there isn’t enough police policing the area to make Jersey a better and safer place to come to….
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Gino
You complain about how much money is given to Tourism and then you want them to waste tens of thousands more publishing the detail on every transaction made. For starters you’d fall foul of commercial sensitivity, secondly that is not the definition of ‘detailed accounts’ and thirdly it would tell us very little.
What needs to be done is the comparison of the £6m budget, plus all the subsidies (e.g. stamp top ups for low paid industry workers etc) against revenue generated from the industry. Then we can see whether the private sector wants to foot the bill for marketing or not.
Sean
You have obviously never left St. Helier.
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What really has Jersey got to offer a holidaying family for 2 weeks. Once you’ve seen the local attractions (if they are still open) and if the weather is rubbish then not much else unless you are willing to pay through the teeth.
No Sunday shopping….and what a huge selection of shops we have in town hey !
I love Jersey, but how are tourists expected to travel to these attractions anyway? Expensive car hire/taxi service or shoddy bus schedule?
Then there are the lawless youths to help disuade you any further.
If (a lot of)the local residents don’t even want to be here then how can you expect tourists to?
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I agree with BS Deluxe. My daughter,husband and 2 children recently visited Jersey as it was her family home until university.She was desperate to return and visit her brother and other family and friends but the flights were too expensive until a “deal” appeared one day in an email to her and she managed to get the flights £150 cheaper than if she had booked previously!They stayed with her brother so no accomodation costs.But with a hire car, which was a necessity with a toddler and baby, it was still expensive.They had a day at Durrell Trust (in pouring rain)but managed not to spend anything in town as everything cheaper back home!
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Look guys when is everyone going to realise that Jersey is not looking for tourism but people to invest in the island, Its been like this for the past ten years, nothing will change. All the tourist spots have either closed or moved away, I remember my childhood it wasn’t just tourists that used to go to these spots but locals too. a good example was Fantastic tropical gardens, What happened to that? well the owner would make more profit from the land sold for property than on takings. Hotels were sold for the same reason,
The flying banana episode was another fine point. was this for tourism or for finance marketing! I think you will find the latter to be the case. If you want tourism to be a good industry you have to offer some sort of incentive to come to the island, There isn’t and thats the problem, If you want to come on holiday to an island where things are more expensive than the place your coming from, and with less to do then i would say your mad to come here. Life enriching, I don’t think so try Money draining or just pure boring! with the logo of a dodo advertising tourism, yes there dead too! leave the bananas out of it!
Dont blame tourism or hoteliers, yet again blame the states, they have never got anything right since the 80s and there just after other peoples money remember Harcourt, another fine mess, the incinerator another mess steam clock need i say more its only money. remember there in charge and they make and break the laws to suit there mood.
also on the point of 340.000 people coming to jersey, this includes people who live here already, going away and landing back on the island and 300 million is a stab in the dark, no one knows what is spent over here on tourism, I will tell you now its not that and would like to see some proof!
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Sean why dont you jog on and go and live some place else…you dont wanna be here so leave…people like you are never welcome…Jersey fo Jersey!!!
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Sean 15
Come on Sean, don’t be like that.
Maybe Jersey hasn’t been good to you but it’s not a DUMP!
I suppose some of the streets in town could do with a facelift…and I realize there’s not much for holidaymakers to do when it rains (which is quite often)…but come to think of it, there’s not much for islanders to do either…ANYWAY, Jersey compensates in beauty!
And there are plenty of things “THEY” can do to attract holidaymakers
…but “THEY” don’t want holidaymakers
…but “THEY” may have to rethink
…because Europe is gunning for the Tax Havens
…so shortly “THEY” may have to rebuild what “THEY” allowed to crumble…and quickly!
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Sometimes a place simply being ‘different’ is enough to bring in tourists. There are not many places like Jersey (I haven’t been to any anyway). Not everyone wants to shop, I don’t understand people that go abroad and then spend all their time in shops anyway, you can do that at home any day.
Jersey has some lovely scenery, and for some that is enough. Of course, what would make it more attractive to such people would be pleasant service in shops, cafes, restaurants…
Even with kids milling about causing bother it is still safer than many places (especially some of the favoured sunny destinations).
Everyone is different. Just because Jersey doesn’t attract the people that it used to (and no doubt they were moaned about at the time) doesn’t mean it shouldn’t do everything to keep those it does get. And money isn’t everything, being a pleasant, friendly, helpful place to visit can mean a lot to some people.
You don’t have to go to tourist attractions to see the island either, you have feet, bikes etc.
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I’m sure for everybody who lives in Jersey, the island is pure heaven. However, we recently swallowed the ‘life enriching’ advert & visited. To say we were disappointed is an understatement. It’s nowhere near as nice as the South of England. The marina/waterfront views at Ocean Village Southampton or Portsmouth are much nicer than Jersey’s,the sea views and beaches at Bournemouth or Poole are equal to anything Jersey has to offer, the rugged coastline of Dorset or Sussex beats Jersey everytime, and then of course there’s the New Forest. St Helier was dirty. It was even closed on Sunday, and the cobbled streets don’t have the charm of Winchester for example.
It was expensive, the people are rude, and clearly you have serious problems with unruly youths not far from Chambers. ‘Life enriching’? – overpriced and overrated is nearer the mark
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84 serious attacks this year as reported by the JEP.Hardly my idea of “safe”.The latest victim left with a fractured skull.
Its a shame people here think its still “1977″ & wake up to the fact its 2009!!!!
Cant help thinking that it would be a great idea to have a greater police prescence on the streets to prevent another 84 attacks.Instead of pointing a speed gun out of a bush at me while im driving 20 mph.
After all a fractured skull isnt a million miles away from death.
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I have spent the last six months trying to find out how much tourism is costing us and the latest annual report I have found is for 2003. Anyone know of a newer one? I think the finance minister would find an area for savings within this department that would not be noticed as much as cuts in patient transport and childrens services. Are tourism value for money? Are the staffing levels and salaries comparable to when tourism was at it’s peak? Somehow, I think not.
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With a little bit of freedom of information we could see if they knew where the money was going.
All I see is highly paid advisor’s and no do-ers.
Jersey stopped evolving as a holiday destination and became a dinosaur.
Brighton is doing well why aren’t we !!!
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Sandy wrote “…the sea views and beaches at Bournemouth or Poole are equal to anything Jersey has to offer, the rugged coastline of Dorset or Sussex beats Jersey everytime”
Ok if you don’t care whether the sea is blue or not, whether the tide hardly moves, whether there’s any surf, if you happen to like crumbly scruffy chalk cliffs rather than magnificent granite, whether you want to see Castles, reefs, France,lighthouses, towers, the other islands…
Otherwise I tend to agree with you!
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Oh, and I forgot.
Ok if you don’t mind having to pay to park just about everywhere that there is a beach or a sea view.
At least that hasn’t caught on in Jersey (yet).
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GTR couldnt agree more, thats about 3 serious assaults a week and there are probably many more minor assaults that go unreported.
It’s only a matter of time before someone gets killed – the latest victim had his skull fractured and his jaw broken!
The police and courts really have to keep these scum off the streets and make St Helier safe again.
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Jersey is a great place to live. Try living in London or any other part of the UK for that matter – the Jersey teenagers are angels compared to some of the teenagers you would meet in the UK. I love it here & plan to stay for a long time.
Yes your politicians are incompetent – but hey you voted them in & have the opportunity to vote them out (when the time comes).
The problem with Jersey politicians is that they are local yokels and lets face it not very bright.
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“Brighton is doing well why aren’t we !!! ”
Probably because Brighton is easy to get to on a whim from just about anywhere in the South East.
It also has connotations of sauciness. Maybe that helps.
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