A rise in group bookings and the success of the Pink Sale has prompted “cautious optimism” within the tourism sector for 2016.

The recent Pink Sale is expected to bring $8.8 million into the local economy in direct visitor spending this year after netting 4,428 bookings. The figures equate to 19,900 room nights for local hotels, an 189 per cent year-over-year increase.

The sale is a partnership promotion between the Bermuda Tourism Authority and the Bermuda Hotel Association.

“Our members are very appreciative of the ongoing efforts on the part of the BTA to increase overall visitors to the island,” BHA CEO Stephen Todd said.

“We are starting to see the anticipated positive growth in future visitor arrivals and we applaud the ongoing efforts of the BTA in creating the overall awareness of the island in our key international markets, which will provide a much needed revenue boost to the overall economy.”

The Pink Sale, which offers visitors 50 per cent discount on hotel rates, was originally planned to run from January 8 to January 25, but was extended to February 1 to leverage a Northeast snowstorm and encourage further bookings.

Fifteen local hotels participated in the promotion this year, the same number as in 2015.

Meanwhile the latest Hotel Pace Report shows group travel up 10 per cent over the next twelve months compared to a year ago.

In 2015, the BTA team’s group sales effort booked 59 meetings that will take place in Bermuda, representing another $10.6 million in estimated spending on-island.

“Group travel is critical to the profitability of hotels and tourism sector employment levels so having positive signs in this area is very important,” said Bill Hanbury, Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO. “We are cautiously optimistic because we’re climbing out of a big hole on the group travel side of the business and we have a long way to go.”