by CHERYL HAREWOOD

HALF FULL! That's the current occupancy for most of the island's hotels.

While a few are recording higher occupancy levels, quite a number are recording below 35 per cent and are "simply hoping for the better".

Executive director of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), Sue Springer, said an eight per cent drop in occupancy was projected for the period September to October compared with the corresponding period last year.

She confirmed that "on average luxury class properties were presently recording a 58 per cent occupancy; A class properties 62 per cent, and B Class/Apartments 45 per cent".

According to the BHTA which represents 86 properties, these figures are expected to drop to 50, 51 and 45 per cent respectively, as the month progresses.

A few properties have projected higher percentages in mid-October and beyond, but others said they would see further declines in spite of what tourism officials are expecting will be a reasonably good winter season.

Springer said forecasts indicated a good end to the upcoming winter season, but explained that since 9/11, the industry has been experiencing a very late booking pattern.

The SATURDAY SUN contacted 14 properties along the south and west coasts during the past week and only four indicated they were operating above 60 per cent.

Time Out at the Gap, a Gems Barbados property, said it was doing reasonably well at 62 per cent occupancy. A similar sentiment was echoed by management at a leading south coast property in Maxwell, which indicated that it had occupancy around 73 per cent. At Blue Horizon Hotel, another Gems project, management put the occupancy at 65 per cent.

One of the major south coast properties has projected occupancy would increase from its current 55 per cent to 90 per cent over the
next ten days.

Management at one of the six properties recording 50 per cent occupancy, said this was not unusual at this time of the year. However, he described this period as "very low".

On the west coast, a popular resort was recording 65 per cent occupancy, but said his year would finish at 80 per cent.

Officials at two of the more established properties on the west coast said things were "quiet".

One, an 88-room property, was operating at 32 per cent, with a mere two per cent increase expected within the next two weeks.

Another, a 96-room property, was recording 30 per cent occupancy.

President of the BHTA, Alvin Jemmott, said it was not uncommon at this time of the year to have low occupancies.

"A lot has to do with the hurricane season. In addition, with school regulations having changed in the United Kingdom, it is difficult
to take children out of school. This has an impact on the family market," he said.

He added that he expected "things to pick up within the next 30 days".