Field note · 1 March 2026
Briefing a General Manager with Occupancy Charts
A practical sequence for showing occupancy without drowning the GM in every chart the revenue office produces.
General managers need the occupancy story in minutes, not a tour of every workbook tab. Lead with the next 14 days of sellable occupancy against last year and against budget, then name the two nights that need a decision.
Bring one annotated pickup chart for the weak nights and one for the strong nights. Annotation matters more than chart polish: circle the displaced segment, note the competing event, and write the recommended inventory or rate move in plain language.
Leave detailed channel mix and production source for a follow-up pack. Those details support the revenue team; they rarely help a GM choose whether to release a block or open a discount fence.
Close with owners of each action. An occupancy briefing that ends without named next steps becomes decoration on the boardroom table.