Despite reports that hotel occupancy rates were low, hotel managers yesterday claimed that figures for June were steady.

However, some admitted that they were cautious about bookings for the remainder of the summer.

The Bermuda Hotel Association yesterday reported that while May's occupancy was 1.6 points ahead of the level attained in May last year, projections for bookings this month and August show that they will fall short.

Occupancy as of June 1 was recorded at 70.5 percent, compared to 74.5 percent at June 1, 1996 and 81.5 percent at the same time in 1995.

July bookings as of June 1 were showing a slight increase, 52.3 percent compared to 49.7 percent. But it was down compared to the same time in 1995 which was 55.8 percent.

And August was projecting an occupancy rate of 36.8 percent compared to 39.4 percent last year and 41.7 percent in 1995.

The final percentage of occupancy for last year in June was 79.5 percent and 73.7 percent and 73.9 percent in July and August, respectively.

But Elbow Beach Hotel manager Bill Shoaf told The Royal Gazette : "June for us is quite good.'' He also said reservations for July looked "quite healthy'' while bookings for the month of August had him "a little worried''.

Marriott Castle Harbour manager Mark Conklin said June was the hotel's busiest month of the year and that occupancy was at 90 percent.

But he also expressed concerns about occupancy levels in July and August.

And manager of Surf Side Beach Club Bryony Harvey said that while occupancy for June looked "fine'', bookings for the future were not promising.

Horizons manager Alan Paris said occupancy in June was "very high'' at 90 percent.

But he admitted that they were counting on regular booking patterns which usually consisted of last-minute reservations and the return of repeat visitors.

Meanwhile, Reefs Beach Club manager Neal Stephens said: "We are predicting 96 percent occupancy for the entire month (of June), so we're pretty full.'' Owner of Marley Beach June Stanton said that property was also busy for June, but she attributed that to the Marion-to-Bermuda yacht race.