Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that a total of 86 hotels and similar establishments were in operation in 2008, an increase of 4 establishments from 2007, consisting of 55 hotels and 31 guest-houses. In view of the opening of 3 large-scale hotels in 2008, total number of guest rooms increased by 8.9% from 16,152 in 2007 to 17,586 in 2008. At the end of 2008, the hotel sector had 26,233 persons engaged, up by 12.2% from a year earlier, with 26,082 (99.4% of total) working in hotels and the 31 guest-houses engaging just 151 workers. Total Receipts of the hotel sector surged by 49.1% year-on-year to MOP 10.39 billion in 2008, which was spurred by an upsurge of 85.3% of receipt from room sales of 5-star hotels. Analyzed by items, Receipts from Room Sales reached MOP 4.58 billion (44.0% of total), with Sales of Food & Beverages (MOP 2.31 billion) and Rent Received (MOP 1.89 billion) accounting for 40.4%. Attributable to an upsurge of the non-operational expenses, namely Depreciation of Fixed Assets (MOP 2.70 billion) and Interest Paid (MOP 1.49 billion), Total Expenditure of the sector increased by 49.7% over 2007 to MOP 14.06 billion; meanwhile, Operating Expenses, Compensation of Employees, as well as Purchase of Goods & Commission Paid amounted to MOP 4.69 billion, MOP 3.85 billion and MOP 1.33 billion respectively. In addition, Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy soared by 84.4% from 2007 to MOP 4.39 billion upon rising Sales & Other Receipts; Gross Fixed Capital Formation amounted to MOP 7.37 billion, down by 48.2% year-on-year.
