HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—Boston, Massachusetts, reported the largest occupancy and revenue-per-available-room increases for January 2010, according to data from Smith Travel Research.

The market’s occupancy rose 18.3 percent to 48.9 percent and RevPAR increased 11.9 percent to US$56.61.

Overall, in year-over-year measurements, the industry’s occupancy ended the month virtually flat with a 0.4-percent decrease to 45.1 percent, average daily rate dropped 7.1 percent to US$93.93, and RevPAR decreased 7.4 percent to US$42.35.

“January’s results continue the pattern of demand improvement that began toward the end of 2009,” said Mark Lomanno, STR’s president. “We expect this trend of positive demand growth to continue throughout most of this year.  Hopefully, this will result in a firming of prices before too many more months go by.”

Among the top 25 markets, Houston, Texas, experienced the largest occupancy decrease, due to the lingering effects of Hurricane Ike, falling 15.7 percent to 49.0 percent.

Los Angeles-Long Beach, California, ended the month virtually flat in ADR growth with a 0.1-percent increase to US$119.80. Washington, D.C., which hosted President Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration on 20 January 2009, posted the largest ADR decrease, falling 27.2 percent to US$132.65. Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida, which hosted Super Bowl XLIII on 1 February 2009, also reported a large ADR decrease, falling 25.4 percent to US$94.27.

Washington, D.C., posted the largest RevPAR decrease, falling 32.3 percent to US$64.19, followed by Tampa-St. Petersburg (-27.6 percent to US$48.29) and Houston (-23.8 percent to US$42.66).

Among the chain-scale segments, the luxury segment reported the largest occupancy increase, up 9.4 percent to 57.2 percent.

Read official press release for January 2010 from STR.

Source: STR