According to data from STR, Smith Travel Research, the U.S. hotel industry showed declines in the week of February 15-21, 2009.The occupancy rate fell by 11.6%, resulting in a week with 54.1% occupancy, that is, 7.1% less than the same week in 2008 (61.2%), which shows a collection of US $ 100.00 per week (US $ 107.75 in 2008).
The celebration of Mardi Gras in New Orleans helped increase occupancy. It rose 6.8%, to end the week with 72.1%. The report indicates that the ADR (Average Daily Rate) increased by 15.7 percent to US$148.71, and in RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room) it grew to 23.6% to US$107.28.
Among the top 25 markets in the country, Chigago, Illinois, reported the largest decline in all three measures. Occupancy fell by 25.5 percent to 43.9 percent, ADR dropped to 17.7 percent to $96.97 and RevPAR fell 38.7 percent to $42.54. Other declines were in San Francisco/San Mateo, California which fell 31.5 percent in RevPAR to $77.78, as well as Miami-Hialeah, Florida, down 27.1 percent in RevPAR to $136.59.
Likewise, the luxury segment presented a decrease in occupancy of 17.5% for 59.4%, in ADR it obtained 12.2 percent for US$265.13 and RevPAR was 27.5% for US$157.52. However, the economic sector showed the smallest decrease in occupancy, down 10.1% to 47.5% and RevPAR of 13.2% to US$24.44.
