Tourism stakeholders have voiced concerns over flagging five-star hotel occupancies in KwaZulu-Natal and Sandton, which have compounded the issues faced by the same regions in the three- and four- star segments.
BDOs Tourism Trends Report highlights that average room occupancy ARO at five-star hotels in KZN plummeted to 46 in the first seven months of 2025, from 61 in 2024 and 67 in pre-COVID 2019. In Sandton occupancies fell to 57, from 65 in 2024 and 62 in 2019.
In comparison to 2019, average room rates ARR at Sandton properties were down by 20 in real terms to R1 468 84, and down by 1 in KZN to R1 930 111.
