THE average hotel room and bed occupancy rates have been increasing since July 1998 with the average hotel room occupancy rate for November 1998 increasing by 2,6% compared with November 1997. Increases were reported in 5 of the 9 provinces. The largest increases were reflected by the Free State Province where room occupancy rose 11,4% and KwaZulu-Natal Province with 5,2%. The total trading revenue of hotels for November 1998 increased by 11,9% (R53,2-million) compared with November 1997 and hotel income increased by 14,3% (R60,0 million) over the same period.