U.S. Hotel Market Posted Mixed Results in Mid September

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According to data from Smith Travel Research (STR), the U.S. hotel industry reported mixed results in the three key performance metrics during the week of September 11th, 2010.

In year-over-year comparisons, occupancy increased 2.7 percent to 54.2 percent, average daily rate fell 2.0 percent to US$92.84, and revenue per available room ended the week virtually flat with a 0.7-percent increase to US$50.32.

"After 13 consecutive weeks of increases, the numbers were a bit down this week," said Steve Hood, senior VP at STR. "Rosh Hashanah, which was on 9 September 2010 compared to 19 September 2009, had an effect on the numbers. Also, looking at the Chain Scale segments, the Upper end hotels took the biggest hit. The Luxury segment and the Upper Upscale segment were the only two segments to report decreases in all three of the key measurements."

Among the Top 25 Markets, New Orleans, Louisiana, achieved the largest increases in all three key performance metrics. The market's occupancy rose 55.1 percent to 58.7 percent, ADR increased 15.5 percent to US$96.61, and RevPAR soared 79.1 percent to US$56.73. Performance for the week was boosted by the opening night of the NFL football season as well as various conferences in the area, Hood said.

Besides New Orleans, three top markets ended the week with double-digit occupancy increases: Dallas, Texas (+12.7 percent to 46.6 percent); Nashville, Tennessee (+10.9 percent to 53.2 percent); and Orlando, Florida (+10.7 percent to 45.8 percent). New York, New York, fell 7.6 percent to 80.6 percent, posting the largest occupancy decrease.

Two markets experienced double-digit ADR decreases: Chicago, Illinois (-12.0 percent to US$103.11), and Atlanta, Georgia (-11.1 percent to US$76.56).

Three markets, excluding New Orleans, reported RevPAR increases of more than 10 percent: Oahu Island, Hawaii (+14.2 percent to US$123.21); Orlando (+11.5 percent to US$32.71); and Dallas (+10.7 percent to US$36.23). Chicago posted the largest RevPAR decrease, falling 15.1 percent to US$59.83, followed by Phoenix, Arizona (-12.5 percent to US$28.84), and San Francisco/San Mateo, California (-10.4 percent to US$94.73).

 

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