U.S. Hotel Performance in September 2009

The U.S. hotel industry recorded declines in all three key performance measurements during September 2009.

According to data from STR, the industry’s year-on-year occupancy levels fell 6.3% to end the month at 56.7%. ADR dropped 10.2% to finish the month at US$96.67, while RevPAR decreased 15.9% to finish at US$54.78.

“September results, while in line with our forecast, made it clear that an unforeseen early recovery in lodging industry fundamentals does not seem imminent” said Mark Lomanno, president of STR. “While demand has begun to stabilize in the important Middle and South Atlantic regions, average room rates continue to be a drag on revenue generation. We will be very closely watching fourth quarter results anticipating incremental improvement in key indicators, even though we fully expect most results to still be negative.”

Among STR’s top 25 markets, Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Virginia, was the only market to report increases in all three metrics: Occupancy for the month was up 4.4% to 53.2, ADR rose 1% to US$85.75, and RevPAR jumped 5.5% to US$45.58.

Oahu Island, Hawaii, experienced the largest increase in occupancy, which jumped 7.5% to 74.7%. Other tp 25 markets to post occupancy increases include: Anaheim-Santa Ana, California (+3.4% to 61.7%); New York (+1% to 85%); Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida (+1% to 43.9%); and San Francisco/San Mateo, California (+0.2% to 82.8%). Houston, Texas, reported the largest occupancy decrease, falling 26.2% to 50.2%, followed by New Orleans, Louisiana (-26% to 42.5%), and Dallas, Texas (-21.1% to 50.6%).

Besides Norfolk-Virginia Beach, none of the top 25 markets posted ADR increases for the month. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota-Wisconsin reported the largest ADR decrease, dropping 23.6% to US$92.15, followed by New York with a 23.2% decline to US$249.24.

Four markets experienced RevPAR decreases of 30% or more: New Orleans (-38.3% to US$37.70); Houston (-38.1% to US$44.57); Minneapolis-St. Paul (-32.8% US$57.35); and Dallas (-30.2% to US$42.57).

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