CAM Classifications and Definitions
Last updated:
April 2008
Accommodation Survey data is recorded using particular groupings (classifications) and terms. This section provides a list of those classifications and definitions to aid you in interpreting the data.
Definitions
This section defines the key words and concepts used in the Commercial Accommodation Survey.
Average Length of Stay
This derived variable is calculated by dividing total guest nights by total guest first nights.
Business Frame
A register maintained by Statistics New Zealand of all economically significant businesses operating in New Zealand, from which the survey population is drawn.
Employment
Includes full and part-time employees and working proprietors. The employment total is measured in terms of Full Time Equivalents (FTEs). Employees or working proprietors who work at least 30 hours per week are considered to be full-time, and each count as one FTE. Part-time workers (up to 30 hours per week) each count as half of an FTE.
Enterprise
A business or service entity operating in New Zealand. It can be a company, partnership, trust, estate, incorporated society, producer board, local or central government organisation, voluntary organisation or self-employed individual.
Establishment
The smallest statistical unit operating within a single physical location and owned by a single enterprise. The term is used to represent what is usually called the geographic unit in other Statistics New Zealand publications.
Geographic (Activity) Unit
A separate operating unit engaged in New Zealand in one, or predominately one, kind of economic activity from a single physical location or base. Called activity unit until December 1996 and then called geographic unit.
Guest
One person staying in an accommodation establishment. This should not be confused with a stay unit, which is a particular room/bed/suite/campsite/etc. that the establishment charges for. For example, a motel may have beds for five guests in a motel unit. If it charges one price for the motel unit, then this is one stay unit. If the stay unit is fully occupied in one night, then one stay unit night is taken and the number of guest nights taken is five.
Guest Arrivals (Guest First Nights)
The total number of guests who had the first night of their current stays during the month. Note that if a particular guest books out and then comes back for another stay, then they are counted as a guest arrival for a second time.
Guest Night
A guest night is equivalent to one guest spending one night at an establishment. For example, a motel with 15 guests spending two nights would report provision of 30 guest nights of accommodation.
Occupancy Rate
This derived variable is calculated by dividing stay unit nights occupied by stay unit nights available. In the case of the motel above, if six of its 10 units were occupied every night in July, it would have 6 x 31 = 186 stay unit nights occupied, and its occupancy rate would be 60 percent.
Number of Establishments
An establishment is the smallest statistical unit operating within a single enterprise. For the purpose of this survey, all establishments are geographic units on the Business Frame.
Residence Of Guest
The country or area in which the guest normally lives/resides.
Stay Unit
The term used to describe the unit of accommodation that is available to be charged out to guests, for example, a powered site, a bed in a bunkroom, a motel unit.
Stay Unit Night (Capacity)
The basic measure of an establishment's accommodation capacity. It is defined as one stay unit multiplied by one night. For example, 10 units in a motel available for guest use (whether occupied or not) for the full 31 days in July would have an accommodation capacity of 310 stay unit nights.
Turnover
Gross income from sales of goods and services during the month, GST exclusive. Cash and credit card sales received for accommodation, restaurant and bar services are included. Income from takings in a restaurant or bar that is leased by another enterprise or income from leasing out restaurant or bar facilities is not included.
Source: Statistics New Zealand
Classifications
Commercial Accommodation Monitor Classifications (22KB)
This PDF has information on the groupings or classifications that are used in the Commercial Accommodation Monitor.
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