Hoteliers on the western side of the island will be smiling throughout the Reggae Sumfest and Negril weekend events.

Despite hard financial times and the siege on Tivoli in West Kingston in May, the events have ensured increased bookings for a large number of hotels, with some locations boasting complete occupancy.

Wayne Cummings, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, said bookings are "very strong in Montego Bay and in surrounding areas such as Trelawny and places like Hanover. This is in keeping with a relatively strong summer, not withstanding the problems of May."

When contacted, Kerry-Ann Casserly, director of sales for Iberostar said that the events were having a positive impact on their occupancy.

"We're sold out, all three hotels, we have 200 local bookings and we're hosting a number of the headliners for Sumfest," Casserly said. The Iberostar line consists of Iberostar Rosehall Beach, Iberostar Rosehall Suites and Iberostar Grand Hotel Rosehall.

Having kicked off last night with Dancehall night, Reggae Sumfest this year boasts R&B crooners Chris Brown and Usher.

Reggae Sumfest and the Negril weekend have long represented an economic boom for the parishes of Hanover, Westmoreland, St James and Trelawny.

In 2007, Reggae Sumfest brought in approximately US$5 million (J$355 million) into the local coffers as a direct result of the annual festival. In July of last year in the midst of the economic recession, Reggae Sumfest's Dancehall Night, according to Summerfest Productions' Chairman Robert Russell, saw its biggest crowd ever in their 17 years.

The event which has been staged since 1993 regularly attracts in excess of 50,000 patrons annually, local and foreign to Montego Bay, which results in hotel rooms and airlines seats being booked solid for the duration of the festival.

As for the Negril weekend where the two party series ATI (Appleton Temptation Isle) and Dream weekend will go head-to-head, bookings are strong as well.

Both weekends will take place from July 30th- August 2 and Cummings said, "it is hardly possible to find a cot in Negril it's all about full."

He said that there are only a few small entities with rooms; "this is really a good period of the year down there when these events are taking place and good for the community."