The July 2023 visitor count beat the recorded visitor counts for Avalon, according to Jim Luttjohann, president and CEO of Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority. (Love Catalina is the local Chamber of Commerce.)
“In July, Hotels saw a dip year-over-year in occupancy but Short Term Rentals saw an increase,” Luttjohann wrote in an email.
In August, the City Council approved a temporary moratorium on issuing short term rental licenses, also known as vacation rentals and transient rentals. The moratorium was extended on Sept. 15 for a period of 10 months and 15 days.
“Based on feedback from our lodging community in early July, that advanced bookings were not as strong as usual, we re-upped our spring campaign,” Luttjohann wrote.
“Normally we do not do paid advertising for July and August, but this year we opted to do so in order to help drive some more business to the island. It looks like it worked,” Luttjohann wrote.
The numbers
“July visitation increased slightly year-over-year by 0.1% or 201 visitors,” according to data released this month by Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority. (Love Catalina is the local Chamber of Commerce.)
“July 2023 was slightly above the previous peak visitation for the month recorded last year @ 150,446 travelers,” according to Love Catalina Island.
“July’s total in-bound passenger count was above the three, five and ten-year averages for the month,” according to Love Catalina.
“Passengers arriving by sea, totaled 111,119 for the month, a decrease of 9.1% from last year,” according to Love Catalina.
“July Cross Channel Passenger counts were below the three-year average by 0.2%, but above the five and ten-year averages by 13.0% and 9.6% respectively,” according to Love Catalina.
“Cross Channel Passengers made up 72.13% of total monthly arrivals,” according to Love Catalina.
“Cruise passenger counts totaled 27,654, down by 2.8% from 2022 or by 786 visitors,” according to Love Catalina.
“July Cruise Passenger counts were above the three, five and ten-year averages by 47.9%, 65.2% and 39.3% respectively. Note multi-year averages are greatly impacted by the lack of cruise ships calling during COVID-19’s suspension of operations,” according to Love Catalina.
“Cruise Passengers made up 18.36% of total monthly arrivals,” according to Love Catalina.
“The number of Cruise Ships calling on Avalon was 7,” according to Love Catalina.
“July typically has 9 ships call on us,” according to Love Catalina.
“Private Boater Passenger counts totaled 9,980, up from last year by 4.8% or 460 visitors,” according to Love Catalina.
“July Private Boater Passenger counts were below the three-year average by 0.6% but above the five and ten-year averages by 0.7% and 5.3% respectively,” according to Love Catalina.
“Private Boaters Made up 6.63% of total monthly arrivals,” according to Love Catalina.
“July’s number of Vessels Anchored was up by 93.3% @ 288 vs 149 last year,” according to Love Catalina.
“2023 had the highest number of Vessels Anchored @ 288,” according to Love Catalina.
“July’s number of Vessels on Moorings was up 4.8% from last year @ 2,495 vs. 2,380 or an increase of 115 vessels,” according to Love Catalina.
“Private Aircraft Passengers (Airport in the Sky) were up 41.6% @ 2,910 vs 2,055 last year,” according to Love Catalina.
“2023 had the highest volume for the month @ 2,910,” according to Love Catalina.
“July’s Private Aircraft Passengers made up 1.93% of total monthly arrivals,” according to Love Catalina.
“Helicopter Passenger counts were down year-over-year by 29.6% @ 2,495 vs. 2,380,” according to Love Catalina.
Lodging
The data for hotel and short term rental occupancy came from Smith Travel and AIRDNA, according to the Love Catalina website.
“Hotel Occupancy for July was down by 4.3% @ 77.8% vs. 81.3% in 2022,” according to Love Catalina.
“Hotel Occupancy was below three, five and ten-year averages by 4.0%, 2.2% and 5.9% respectively,” according to Love Catalina.
“Short-Term Rental Occupancy for July was up 1.2% @ 84% vs 83% in 2022,” according to Love Catalina.
“Short-term rental occupancy was equal to the three-year average @ 84%, but above the five and ten-year averages by 18.5% and 20.7% respectively,” according to Love Catalina.
“July Hotel Average Daily Rate was down 7.4% @ $299.88 vs. $313.97 in 2022,” according to Love Catalina.
“July Short-Term Rental Average Daily Rate was up by 3.1% @ $628.00 vs. $609.00 in 2022,” according to Love Catalina.
“July Hotel Revenue Per Available Room was down 11.3% @ $226.29 vs. $255.11 in 2022,” according to Love Catalina.
“July Short-Term Rental Revenue Per Available Room was $528.00, up 4.3% from $506.00 in 2022,” according to Love Catalina.
