The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands has reported a 15 percent increase in the occupancy rate of its member hotels in December 2012 compared with December 2011.
The Hotel Association says occupancy at its 12 member hotels was 85 percent.
The Association says room rates were 113 US dollars in December last year compared to 103 dollars the previous December.
The chair of the Hotel Association Nick Nishikawa says the hotel industry is optimistic that 2013 will be a year for the CNMI to move forward in tourism recovery.
In calendar year 2012, hotel occupancy averaged 73 percent which was nine percent higher than 2011.
