The results for the first quarter of 2010 presented by STR (Smith Travel Research), show that occupancy in this period increased in the US hotel industry by 2.3% to 51.9%.Conversely, the average daily rate (ADR) fell 4.3% to $96.27 as did revenue per available room (RevPar), which declined to 2.1% to $50.01.
Bobby Bowers, senior vice president of STR, said the results for this first half are encouraging. He commented that the growth of the supply of rooms is slowing down and the demand (rooms sold) is growing.
It should be noted that March has been the fourth consecutive month that presents demand growth after 18 months of decline. Revenue per room in this month increased 6.6%.
The only segment that reported an increase in occupancy and RevPar was Luxury. For the first measurement it was 10.6% for 63.1% and the second grew 3.1% to US$155.68.
The market that reported the largest increase in occupancy was Boston, Massachusetts: 15.1% to 54.6%. The highest ADR and RevPar in the quarter was for Miami-Hialeah, Florida with 4.0% at $182.70 and 14.1% at $142.41, respectively.
