hoteliers say figures compare well with last year's. And smaller hotels are leading the way, reports Henry Adderley .

Local hotels seem set to receive rosy occupancy figures under their Christmas trees this year as visitors flock to the Island to celebrate the holiday.

A cross-section of hotel general managers from Island visitor accommodations yesterday reported strong showings for the fortnight period covering Christmas, Boxing Day and the start of 1999.

However the smaller hotels seem to have the upper hand over their resort counterparts when it comes to filling their rooms for the festive season.

Ariel Sands Club & Cottages' assistant manager Simon Boden said the South Shore, Devonshire property looked set to have about 70 percent of its rooms full between December 23 and January 1.

"Basically we are full for Christmas and New Year's,'' he noted before adding: "We have had an amazing year. Every month has been about 20 percent up over the same time last year.'' Cambridge Beaches in Somerset are also looking strong, said the property's managing director Michael Winfield.

While the hotel never discloses projected occupancy figures, he said: "We are matching, if not exceeding, last year's figures.'' Three facilities in Paget look set for bumper holiday business also.

All-inclusive Harmony Club is set for a strong holiday season, said the Paget resort's president William Griffiths.

The property, which traditionally closes for most of December to cater to local Christmas properties, will re-open to about 50 percent occupancies for Christmas.

But Mr. Griffiths added: "We are sold out over the New Year period.'' Horizons and Cottages general manager Brian Crooke said the forecast for occupancies at the hillside hotel looked "super''.

"We are looking forward to a very good Christmas. For Christmas and New Years we are near enough full as far as occupancies go.'' Meanwhile the Christmas luncheon and New Year's Eve bash that the hotel is putting on are completely sold out.

And Stonington Beach Hotel, with Bermudian general manager Esan Frederick at the helm, is expecting to be about 77 percent full for Christmas.

Mr. Frederick said the figures, which are slightly down in comparison to December, 1997, were thanks in part to the strong repeat visitor base the South Shore hotel enjoyed. New Year at the hotel was also looking "pretty good'', he added.

In the East End, Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort is expecting similar business levels as those achieved in 1997.

Operations manager David Abraham noted: "December is a quiet month for us traditionally. We are expecting our occupancies to pick up at Christmas time and creep up from 30 percent to 50 percent and then trail off again after the New Year.'' The Princess Hotels in Southampton and Pembroke look to be in a similar position with spokeswoman Donna Jenkins forecasting that the properties would be relatively quiet.

However she pointed out that the hotels had been very busy up to this point and the drop-off was not unusual.

And Sonesta Beach general manager Dennis Tucker reported that his Southampton charge would be close to 50 percent full for both Christmas and New year's which was in keeping with the occupancies recorded over past years.

`We are sold out over the New Year period' William Griffith `We are match ing, if not exceeding, last year's figures.' Michael Winfield BUSINESS BUC