HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—Houston, Texas, achieved the largest occupancy and revenue-per-available-room increases during April, according to data from STR.
The market’s occupancy rose 14.8% to 64.1%, and its RevPAR was up 26% to US$62.73. Houston’s average daily rate rose 9.8% to US$97.92.
Overall, the U.S. hotel industry’s occupancy was up 4.9% to 61.2%, its ADR ended the month with a 2.8% increase to US$100.55, and its RevPAR rose 7.9% to finish at US$61.51.
“The U.S. hotel industry continues to show signs of recovery as the April performance indicates,” said Amanda Hite, STR’s president. “Though Easter, a traditionally slow travel period, did have some affect on performance, the industry ended the month with positive movement. Of particular note is the 2.8-percent increase in ADR. As rates continue to rise, the gap between current levels and the peak levels of 2008 lessens, which in turn makes hoteliers more comfortable about the operating environment. With the summer travel season right around the corner, we expect to see even stronger performance gains across the board.”
Excluding Houston, four top 25 markets posted occupancy increases of 10% or more: Nashville, Tennessee (+11.2% to 65.4%); Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Virginia (+10.8% to 59.2%); Orlando, Florida (+10.8% to 76.4%); and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota-Wisconsin (+10% to 64.1%).
Washington, D.C., reported the largest decrease in all three performance metrics. The market’s occupancy fell 6% to 73.7%, its ADR was down 2.9% to US$151.28, and its RevPAR dropped 8.8% to US$111.55.
Two markets reported double-digit ADR increases: Miami-Hialeah, Florida (+13.1% to US$170.73), and Oahu Island, Hawaii (+12.2% to US$162.43).
Excluding Houston, four markets achieved RevPAR increases of more than 15%: Miami-Hialeah (+23.8% to US$136.25); Oahu Island (+19.2% to US$120.20); Orlando (+16.8% to US$78.08); and Nashville, Tennessee (+16.2% to US$62.25).
Among the chain-scale segments, the economy segment posted the largest occupancy increase, rising 6.1% to 54.2%, followed by the independent segment with a 5.7% increase to 57.4%.
The luxury segment ended the month with the largest ADR increase, rising 5.6% to US$258.34. The midscale segment ended the month virtually flat in ADR with a 0.9% decrease to US$71.59.
The luxury segment reported the only double-digit RevPAR increase, rising 10.2% to US$188.05, followed by the independent segment (+9.4% to US$55.12) and the upper-midscale segment (+8.2% to US$58.10).
Source: STR
