HANMI occupancy at 41% in January

The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands (HANMI) reported 41.02% average occupancy rate among 10 member hotels for January 2026, 11% higher than 37.05% in January 2025.

The figure reflects a reduction in total room nights reported due to the upcoming temporary closure of GrandVrio Resort Saipan, whose figures are not included for 2026. A total of 20,899 of 50,945 available room nights sold during January 2026 compared to 24,105 of 65,062 available rooms sold in January 2025. The average room rate was $104.23, compared to $140.10 last January and the lowest January room rate since 2005.

Air service and arrivals into the Marianas have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, and the association said that without additional flights — including the return of direct China services and stronger Japanese arrivals — these pressures will continue.

“The new Marianas Far From Ordinary brand is a step in the right direction for uniting our destination marketing message and focus, but emergency intervention is also needed from our federal partners to help revive our tourism industry,” said HANMI Acting Chairman Ivan Quichocho. “We need stability of the EVS-TAP immigration program that allows qualified Chinese citizens who do not have a U.S. visa to enter the Marianas. We’d like to see a portion of the U.S. multi-million dollar trade deficit from Korea and Japan earmarked for tourism investment in the Marianas. And we are requesting a waiver from cabotage law for our remote commonwealth, along with Guam. These are among the priority needs to restore flights and revive our tourism economy.”

Hotels included in HANMI’s monthly statistical report are Aqua Resort Club Saipan, Aquarius Beach Tower, Century Hotel, Coral Ocean Resort, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Kensington Hotel Saipan, LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, Saipan World Resort, and Surfrider Resort Hotel.

The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands was established in 1985 as a professional forum for the hospitality industry of The Marianas.