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Accommodation Statistics

Tourism Nova Scotia gathers and reports tourism statistics on behalf of the tourism industry. These statistics help inform our decision-making, help describe visitors to Nova Scotia, and can be used by tourism businesses and organizations for planning and business development. As tourism indicators are compiled from several sources, data becomes available at different times. Tourism Nova Scotia reports the most up-to-date statistics available so reporting timelines for each indicator may differ.

See 2023 Accommodation Statistics (PDF)

Accommodations Activity in Nova Scotia, to October 2023

May to October 2023

In the peak travel months of May to October 2023, accommodations operators reported 1,922,000 room nights sold, a decrease of 2% (49,000 fewer room nights sold) compared with 2022 and an increase of 3% (60,000 more room nights sold) compared with 2019. 

Compared with 2022, Nova Scotia saw increases in room nights sold in May and June, but room nights sold declined compared with 2022 during each month between July and October. Nova Scotia experienced wildfires in May 2023 and June 2023 and severe flooding in July 2023, which may have affected room sales during this period. 

Decreases in room nights sold versus 2022 were observed across several regions. These included:

  • Halifax Metro, down 3% (34,000 fewer room nights sold)
  • Cape Breton, down 3% (12,000 fewer room nights sold)
  • South Shore, down 5% (8,000 fewer room nights sold)
  • Northumberland Shore, down 3% (5,000 fewer room nights sold)
  • Yarmouth & Acadian Shores, down 6% (3,000 fewer room nights sold)

Two regions, meanwhile, experienced increases in room nights sold:

  • Eastern Shore, up 3% (500 more rooms nights sold)
  • Bay of Fundy & Annapolis Valley, up 5% (12,000 more rooms nights sold)

Year-to-date October 2023

Nova Scotia accommodations operators report 2.6 million room nights sold from January to October 2023, a 4% increase (94,000 more room nights sold) compared with 2022 and a 7% increase (180,000 more room nights sold) in 2019.

All tourism regions experienced growth from January to October 2023 compared with 2019. However, compared with 2022 which was an exceptional year for recovery in room nights sold, only four tourism regions reported increases in room nights sold, including:

  • Halifax Metro, up 5% (61,000 more room nights sold than in 2022)
  • Bay of Fundy & Annapolis Valley, up 10% (30,000 more room nights sold than in 2022)
  • Northumberland Shore, up 4% (7,000 more room nights sold than in 2022)
  • Eastern Shore, up 6% (1,000 more room nights sold than in 2022)

Two regions, meanwhile, experienced decreases in sales compared with January to October 2022:

  • South Shore, down 3% (6,000 fewer room nights sold)
  • Yarmouth & Acadian Shores, down 1% (1,000 fewer room nights sold)

Cape Breton saw minimal fluctuation in accommodation sales in 2023 compared with 2022 (unchanged) and 2019, up 1% (4,000 more room nights sold).

Nova Scotia Room Nights Sold (TNS Accommodations Database):

Graph - Accommodation Activity in Nova Scotia October 2023

Sharing Economy Activity in Nova Scotia, to October 2023

According to AirDNA, there were 463,000 room nights booked through sharing economy platforms (such as Airbnb, Vrbo) between the peak months of May to October 2023, an increase of 10% (40,000 more room nights booked) compared with 2022 and an increase of 25% (92,000 more room nights booked) compared with 2019.

Year-to-date October 2023, AirDNA reports 573,000 room nights were booked through sharing economy platforms. This was an increase of 11% (57,000 more room nights booked) compared with 2022 and an increase of 31% (137,000 more room nights booked) compared with 2019.

Room Nights Booked Through Sharing Economy Platforms:

Room Nights Booked Through Sharing Economy Platforms October 2023

 

Average Room Rate in Nova Scotia, to October 2023

According to the latest data from the CBRE Hotels National Market Report, the average room rate for Nova Scotia accommodations during the first 10 months of 2023 was $195, an increase of 14% from 2022, and an increase of 31% from 2019. January 2023 saw the lowest monthly average room rate of $146 (up 34% from January 2022 and up 20% from January 2019). The highest month average room rates, and most significant increases compared with 2019, were reported in July at $235 (up 20% from 2022 and up 49% from 2019) and August at $235 (up 13% from 2022, and up 44% from 2019).

Year-to-date October 2023, the reported average room rate for HRM was $212, up 15% from 2022, and up 34% compared with 2019. The average rate for the rest of the province was $153, up 10% from 2022, and up 24% compared with 2019.

Average Room Rates:

Graph - Average Room Rates October 2023

Tourism statistics are compiled from a variety of sources, including:

  • Operator accommodation occupancy reports
  • Room rate data from CBRE Limited
  • Data collected by AirDNA regarding room night bookings through sharing economy platforms
  • In-person surveys administered to passengers at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport
  • Motor vehicle enumeration at the Nova Scotia – New Brunswick border
  • Passenger information from ferry operators
  • The Nova Scotia Visitor Exit Survey
  • Data from Halifax International Airport Authority

These statistics reflect the combined efforts of tourism businesses, organizations, communities, and governments, and include activities by both Nova Scotians and non-resident visitors. There are many factors that contribute to tourism industry performance including events, weather, gas prices, air capacity, currency fluctuations, geo-political circumstances, and industry initiatives such as marketing. Tourism Nova Scotia is just one organization among many contributing to tourism growth. We support tourism growth through marketing in key national and international markets, support for experience and business development, and visitor servicing. For more information about Tourism Nova Scotia's strategy and performance, please see Plans & Reports.