U.S. Hotel Market Reports Performance Increases in January

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According to STR, the U.S. hotel industry in January reported increases in all three key performance metrics.

Overall, the U.S. hotel industry's occupancy rose 4.1 percent to 49.4 percent, its average daily rate was up 3.9 percent to US$100.74 and its revenue per available room increased 8.1 percent to US$49.78.

"Even with tougher comparisons to start the year, January demand for hotel rooms was impressive," said Amanda Hite, president of STR. "The lack of new hotel rooms (supply) also remains favorable. We expect the first quarter to provide a good bellwether for overall industry performance in 2012."

Among the  Top 25 markets, Chicago, Illinois, rose 15.4 percent in occupancy to 47.4 percent, posting the largest increase in that metric, followed by Nashville, Tennessee (+11.2 percent to 51.2 percent), and Anaheim-Santa Ana, California (+10.0 percent to 62.5 percent). Phoenix, Arizona, fell 5.9 percent in occupancy to 58.7 percent, reporting the largest decrease in that metric.

Three markets experienced double-digit ADR increases: New Orleans, Louisiana (+24.1 percent to US$145.16); Oahu Island, Hawaii (+10.7 percent to US$181.42); and San Francisco/San Mateo (+10.4 percent to US$157.48). Two markets reported ADR decreases for the week: New York, New York (-3.1 percent to US$188.05), and Washington, D.C. (-2.0 percent to US$129.65).

Four markets achieved RevPAR increases of more than 15 percent: New Orleans (+32.1 percent to US$87.57); Chicago (+24.3 percent to US$46.39); Oahu Island (+18.9 percent to US$157.88); and Miami-Hialeah, Florida (+15.8 percent to US$148.71). Phoenix (-4.8 percent to US$69.62) and Washington, D.C. (-3.1 percent to US$62.99) reported the only RevPAR decreases for the month.