Newfoundland and Labrador Product Development Strategy

- 278 -100%90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%° Demand at hotel/motel properties is slightly higher, with occupancies over 70% for Julyand August, and in the 60% plus range for June through September – this is slightly belowprovincial averages.31%Zone 12: Exploits Valley - Monthly Occupancy Rates 200239% 38% 36%40% 44% 68% 70% 50%42% 41%25%JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC YearOccupancy44%° Occupancies at cottageproperties in the zone areslightly above provincialaverages, at B&Bs they areslightly below provincialaverages.° Tour operators expressedsome concern about thequality of hotel propertiesin this region, and alsospoke about the need formore eveningentertainment activities;however, they made morecomments about the lackof things to see and dogenerally in central NL,and the need for some “experiences” in this region if it is going to attract and hold morevisitors° Local tourism industry personnel believe that there is a shortage of character styleaccommodation in the Grand Falls-Windsor area and that it is constraining the growth ofthe industry° It appears from our interviews that there are selected periods when properties are full –e.g. the Salmon Festival, but demand is not consistent throughout the summer period;Opportunities and Needs° Based on these findings, there does not appear to be sufficient demand for additionaltransient/service style accommodation unless and until the region starts to see an increasein visitors staying one night or more.° There may however, be opportunities for new capacity in demand influencing style,character, quality accommodations, in the Exploits Valley area, outside of Grand Falls –Windsor. (See Section 9 of the report for definitions and the introduction to this section onaccommodations for cautions and caveats). This type of development would beparticularly appropriate in conjunction with the development of more things to see and doin this zone so as to increase its appeal to overnight visitor markets.THE ECONOMIC PLANNING GROUP of Canada Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism Product DevelopmentD. W. Knight Associates Strategy and Accommodation Needs Study