Euro Disney sales slump and hotel bookings drop

Theme park Euro Disney reported a 6.9 per cent sales slide in its third quarter that it attributed a lower visitor spending and a drop in hotel bookings.

Sales in the April to June period came to €307.7 million and for the first nine months of its 2008-2009 fiscal year, October to June, they were down 7.1 per cent to €866.5 million.

Sales in the theme park segment alone for the nine months fell 3.0 per cent to €482.1 million from the same period of last year, reflecting a four per cent decline in spending per visitor.

Hotel revenue in the nine months was down eight per cent at €341.4 million in response to a 3.8 per cent fall in hotel occupancy and a four per cent decline in average spending per room, notably on food and beverages.

Euro Disney hotels registered 66,000 fewer room nights, driven by fewer guests visiting from Spain and Britain and weaker business group activity, the company said in a statement.

"Consistent with the broader tourism industry in Europe, our revenues have been impacted by the challenging economic environment and consumer spending behaviour," Euro Disney chief executive officer Philippe Gas said.

He said the company, in response to the global economic downturn, had launched promotional offers that had supported attendance at Disneyland Paris.

"We are closely managing our costs and have curtailed certain capital spending in this current environment.

"However, in line with our long-term growth strategy we continue to invest in the resort and are developing new attractions to open next year."