STR, the parent company of HotelNewsNow.com, has reported weekly data for the United States and Canada.
U.S.: Overall, the U.S. hotel industry’s occupancy rose 4.4% to 61.3%, average daily rate increased 1% to US$99.23, and revenue per available room finished the week up 5.5% to US$60.78.
The economy segment reported the largest occupancy and revenue-per-available-room increases among the chain-scale segments during the week, with occupancy up 7.3% to 54.5% and RevPAR up 8.2% to US$27.18.
Canada: The Canadian hotel industry reported decreases in all three key performance metrics for the week of 24-30 April 2011, according to data from STR.
In year-over-year measurements, the Canadian hotel industry ended the week with a 4.3% decrease in occupancy to 60.3%, a 1.5% decrease in ADR to CAD$122.38 (US$126.39) and a 5.7% decrease in RevPAR to CAD$73.78 (US$76.21).
Despite a recorded loss of US$90 million, MGM Resorts International posted considerable performance gains during the first quarter of 2011, which were driven by a return of group business and consumer spending, reports HotelNewsNow.com’s Patrick Mayock.
“MGM Resorts reported a solid first quarter today, and we’re seeing some positive trends in the second quarter,” said Jim Murren, the Las Vegas-based casino/hotel operator’s chairman and CEO.
U.S. extended-stay hotel room revenues of US$1.54 billion in the first quarter of 2011 were the highest ever reported for a first quarter, according to The Highland Group’s “US Extended-Stay Lodging Report: First Quarter 2011.” Roomnights accommodated were 20.62 million, another first quarter record and a 7% increase from the previous high set in the same period of 2010.
Extended-stay demand continues to rebound strongly, average rates are up and the 8% increase in RevPAR was the biggest first quarter increase since 2006.
Compared to last year, summer airfare is expected to jump by about 15%, or on average US$75 per ticket, with domestic tickets averaging US$561, up from US$485 last summer, according to Bing’s Summer Travel Forecast. Hotel costs will be up about 7%, with average costs at US$242 versus US$227 last year.
Scotland's hotel sector is “outperforming” the rest of the UK, according to PKF. The company said year-on-year occupancy levels rose by 1.5% during the month of February in a BBC News story.
Alastair Rae, from PKF, said: "It was another positive month for the Scottish hotel sector, outperforming the rest of the U.K. with increases in both occupancy and rooms yield.
"Whilst it is always risky to ascribe too much to a single month's figures there are signs that this year may see a marked improvement in the performance of the sector in Scotland," he said.
Rae said Aberdeen's strong performance was "business driven” rather than by the leisure market.
Compiled by Stacey Higgins.
