HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—The U.S. hotel industry experienced declines in three key performance measurements during the week of 28 December 2008-03 January 2009, according to data from STR.

Revenue per available room fell 3.6 percent from the comparable period a year ago to finish the week at US$44.40 (US46.05 in 2007-2008). The industry’s occupancy for the week dropped 0.5 percent to end at 42.9 percent (43.1 percent in 2007-2008), while average room rate declined 3.2 percent to complete the week at US$103.43 (US$106.80 in 2007-2008).

The performances of the chain-scale segments varied:
• Luxury segment: occupancy +2.5 percent (55.2 percent); ADR -10.0 percent (US$322.31); RevPAR -7.7 percent (US$178.06).
• Upper Upscale segment:  occupancy -1.4 percent (45.8 percent); ADR -7.1 percent (US$145.88); RevPAR -8.4 percent (US$66.84).
• Upscale segment: occupancy -3.3 percent (39.2 percent); ADR -7.6 percent (US$104.35); RevPAR    -10.6 percent (US$40.86).
• Midscale with Food and Beverage segment: occupancy -3.1 percent (37.7 percent); ADR -0.3 percent (US$83.42); RevPAR -3.4 percent (US$31.46).
• Midscale without Food and Beverage segment: occupancy -2.1 percent (38.6 percent); ADR -2.3 percent (US$81.66); RevPAR -4.4 percent (US$31.50).
• Economy segment: occupancy -1.2 percent (42.0 percent); ADR -0.5 percent (US$52.63); RevPAR   -1.7 percent (US$22.09).
• Independents segment: occupancy +2.4 percent (46.8 percent); ADR -1.5 percent (US$108.61); RevPAR +0.8 percent (US$50.80).

Among Top 25 Markets, seven achieved RevPAR gains, including San Francisco/San Mateo, California (+12.4 percent); Orlando, Florida (+11.2 percent); and New York, New York (+7.1 percent). Houston, Texas (+6.3 percent) and New York, (+1.2 percent) were the only two Top 25 Market to report a gain in ADR. Eleven of the Top 25 Markets experienced gains in occupancy, including San Francisco/San Mateo (+17.5 percent); Orlando (+14.7 percent); and San Diego, California (+11.2 percent).

View Hotel Review for week ending 3 January 2009.
  
About STR & STR Global:
For more than 20 years, Smith Travel Research has been the recognized leader for lodging industry benchmarking and research. Smith Travel Research and STR Global offer monthly, weekly, and daily STAR benchmarking reports to more than 36,000 hotel clients, representing nearly 5 million rooms worldwide.  STR is headquartered in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and STR Global is based in London. For more information, visit www.strglobal.com.

Media contact:
Jeff Higley
Director of Communications/Editorial Director, Digital Media
jeff@smithtravelresearch.com
+1 (615) 824-8664 ext. 3318