STR Reports Global Hotel Performance for May 2012

According to data compiled by STR Global, hotels in the Asia Pacific region experienced positive results in all three key performance metrics for May 2012 when reported in U.S. dollars.

In year-on-year measurements, the Asia Pacific region's occupancy increased 2.3% to 65.5%, its ADR increased 1.0% to US$135.85 and its RevPAR was up 3.3% to US$88.94.

"The majority of Asian markets continued to report RevPAR increases for the month," said Elizabeth Randall, managing director of STR Global. "The Indian markets remained under pressure as the markets had to cope with increasing supply and slowing local economic conditions."

Highlights from key market performers in May 2012 in local currency (year-on-year comparisons):

- Tokyo, Japan, reported the largest occupancy increase, rising 28.1% to 80.4%, followed by Phuket, Thailand, with a 19.0% increase to 60.9%.

- Delhi, India, fell 14.3% in occupancy to 51.5%, posting the largest decrease in that metric.

- Jakarta, Indonesia (+20.4% to IDR924,524.45), and Tokyo (+19.2% to JPY14,915.74), experienced the largest ADR increases for the week.

- Two markets posted double-digit ADR decreases: Delhi (-10.8% to INR6,476.82) and Hanoi, Vietnam (-10.1% to VND2,218,689.50).

- Four markets achieved RevPAR increases of more than 20%: Tokyo (+52.8% to JPY11,991.13); Phuket (+37.7% to THB2,009.08); Bangkok, Thailand (+21.3% to THB1,991.59); and Jakarta (+20.3% to IDR674,150.30).

- Delhi fell 23.6% in RevPAR to INR3,332.95, posting the largest decrease in that metric.

Highlights from key market performers for May 2012 in U.S. dollars (year-on-year comparisons):

- Tokyo increased 21.6% in ADR to US$188.20, reporting the largest increase in that metric, followed by Beijing (+12.0% to US$115.05) and Phuket (+10.5% to US$103.71).

- Delhi (-28.4% to US$114.75) and Mumbai, India (-23.7 to US$136.21), posted the largest ADR decreases in May.

- Three markets achieved RevPAR increases of more than 20%: Tokyo (+55.9% to US$151.30); Phuket (+31.5% to US$63.11;  and Osaka (+20.2% to US$110.40).

- Delhi fell 38.7% in RevPAR to US$59.05, posting the largest decrease in that metric.

The Americas

The Americas region reported a 3.4% increase in occupancy to 63.4%, a 3.1% gain in ADR to US$107.64 and a 6.6% jump in RevPAR to US$68.30.

Among the key markets in the region, Los Angeles, California, rose 5.8% in occupancy to 75.0%, posting the largest increase in that metric. Two markets experienced double-digit occupancy decreases: Panama City, Panama (-11.6% to 48.1%), and Sao Paulo, Brazil (-11.5% to 63.9%).

Boston, Massachusetts, reported the largest ADR increase, rising 8.9% to US$171.87, followed by San Francisco, California, with a 5.8% increase to US$166.34. Canadian cities Montreal (-9.6% to US$131.30) and Vancouver (-9.3% to US$148.64) ended the month with the largest ADR decreases.

Boston increased 11.6% in RevPAR to US$135.54, reporting the largest increase in that metric, followed by Los Angeles with a 10.8% increase to US$94.53. Four markets posted double-digit RevPAR decreases in May: Panama City (-19.4% to US$59.33); Sao Paulo (-16.7% to US$90.88); Montreal (-15.8% to US$90.09); and Vancouver (-11.5% to US$114.15).

Europe

The European hotel industry posted mixed results in year-on-year metrics when reported in U.S. dollars, Euros and British Pounds for May 2012.

"May saw more public holidays across Europe compared to last year," said Ms. Randall. "Pentecost took place in May this year instead of June, contributing to a small decline in demand and occupancy for the region compared to May 2011. It is good to see that average room-rate growth continued for the past 27 months with August last year being the exception. Bratislava, Solvakia, hosted the 2011 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in May last year and therefore reported 42.9% RevPAR decline this month."

Highlights from key market performers for May 2012 include (year-on-year comparisons, all currency in euros):

- Reykjavik, Iceland, rose 14.0% in occupancy to 71.2%, reporting the largest increase in that metric.

- Athens, Greece, posted the largest occupancy decrease, falling 25.7% to 56.1%, followed by Bratislava with a 14.1% decrease to 55.6%.

- The following cities in Europe experienced ADR increases of more than 15%: Tallinn, Estonia (+19.2% to EUR70.51); Helsinki, Finland (+18.0% to EUR120.61); and Reykjavik (+17.2% to EUR99.46).

- Bratislava reported the largest ADR (-33.5% to EUR63.68) and RevPAR (-42.9% to EUR35.39) decreases in May.

- The following cities in Europe experienced RevPAR growth of more than 15%: Reykjavik (+33.6% to EUR70.84); Tallinn (+19.0% to EUR51.81); and Helsinki (+18.9% to EUR89.49).

Middle East/Africa

In May 2012, the region's occupancy jumped 13.3% to 60.4%, its ADR fell 1.6% to US$146.32 and its RevPAR rose 11.5% to US$88.39.

"Across the region, we saw strong growth in occupancy as travellers return to the countries impacted by the Arab Spring last year; average room rates remained under pressure," Ms. Randall said. "Interestingly, despite the ongoing dramatic situation across Syria, where we track nine hotels, occupancy increased by 72.5%, however this relates actually only to 7.9%age points growth to 18.7% occupancy achieved. This occupancy level is in line with recent months."

Highlights among the region's key markets for May 2012 include (year-on-year comparisons, all currency in U.S. dollars):

- Cairo, Egypt, reported the largest occupancy increase, rising 41.1% to 49.4%. Four other markets experienced occupancy increases of more than 20%: Muscat, Oman (+31.2% to 53.6%); Manama, Bahrain (+29.4% to 43.8%); Amman, Jordan (+25.9% to 72.1%); and Cape Town, South Africa (+20.2% to 54.8%).

- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, fell 13.8% to 63.8%, posting the largest occupancy decrease, followed by Doha, Qatar, with an 11.6% decrease to 57.0%.

- Amman reported the only double-digit ADR increase, up 21.5% to US$172.09.

- Cape Town experienced the largest ADR decrease, falling 16.9% to US$105.21, followed by Cairo with a 12.4% decrease to US$97.55.

- Four markets achieved RevPAR increases of more than 25%: Amman (+53.0% to US$124.02); Manama (+37.2% to US$90.40); Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (+26.7% to US$176.20); and Muscat (+26.2% to US$99.83).

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