U.S. Hotel Occupancy Rates at 60.7% in April, says STR

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According to data from STR, the U.S. hotel industry reported mixed results in the three key performance measurements during the week of 18-24 April 2010.

In year-over-year measurements, the industry's occupancy increased 2.4 percent to 60.7 percent. Average daily rate dropped 2.4 percent to US$98.16. Revenue per available room ended the week virtually flat with a 0.1-percent decrease to US$59.55.

Among the Top 25 Markets, New Orleans, Louisiana, boosted by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival, held 23 April-2 May 2010, experienced the largest occupancy increase, rising 17.2 percent to 81.7 percent. Three other markets posted double-digit occupancy increases: Phoenix, Arizona (+11.8 percent to 64.7 percent); Seattle, Washington (+11.7 percent to 65.8 percent); and Boston, Massachusetts (+11.2 percent to 76.6 percent). Oahu Island, Hawaii, reported the largest occupancy decrease, falling 11.9 percent to 72.5 percent, followed by Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Virginia, with an 11.3-percent decrease to 51.2 percent.

New York, New York, posted the largest ADR increase, up 7.7 percent to US$222.39, followed by New Orleans with a 6.4-percent increase to US$147.85. Detroit, Michigan, experienced the only double-digit ADR decrease, falling 11.3 percent to US$76.67.

New Orleans reported the largest RevPAR increase, rising 24.8 percent to US$120.79, followed by New York (+14.4 percent to US$188.33) and Boston (+10.7 percent to US$113.75). Four markets experienced RevPAR decreases of more than 10 percent: Oahu Island (-15.8 percent to US$106.32); Norfolk-Virginia Beach (-14.2 percent to US$40.19); Denver, Colorado (-13.5 percent to US$60.34); and Houston, Texas (-12.0 percent to US$52.31).

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