STR Reports Global Hotel Performances for April 2012

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

In year-on-year measurements, the Asia Pacific region's occupancy increased 3.8% to 67.6%, its ADR increased 3.6% to US$145.01 and its RevPAR was up 7.6% to US$98.07.

"Hotels across Asia Pacific sustained their growth in occupancy and average room rate," said Elizabeth Randall, managing director of STR Global. "Looking at the supply and demand results for the first four months of this year, supply grew at the lowest rate for the January to April period for the past six years (+2.8%) whilst demand achieved the second highest growth rate for the four-month period in the past six years with 5.3% improvement, only surpassed by the demand growth in the corresponding period in 2010."

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

- Tokyo, Japan, reported the largest occupancy increase, rising 63.0% to 84.8%, followed by Osaka, Japan, with a 22.3% increase to 87.0%.

- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, fell 6.8% in occupancy to 64.5%, posting the largest decrease in that metric.

- Tokyo rose 25.3% in ADR to JPY14,499.46, achieving the largest increase in that metric, followed by Jakarta, Indonesia (+21.8% to IDR932,278.05), and Phuket, Thailand (+18.3% to THB3,931.25).

- New Delhi, India, fell 10.0% in ADR to INR7,117.90, ending the month with the only double-digit ADR decrease.

- Six markets experienced RevPAR increases of more than 20%: Tokyo (+104.3% to JPY12,294.86); Phuket (+25.8% to THB3,112.21); Osaka (+24.5% to JPY9,532.78); Taipei, Taiwan (+23.8% to TWD4,554.61); Jakarta (+21.4% to IDR656,761.02); and Beijing, China (+20.4% to CNY561.91).

- New Delhi (-12.8% to INR4,445.58) and Mumbai, India (-10.8% to INR4,976.59) reported the largest RevPAR decreases for the month.

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

- Tokyo rose 27.0% in ADR to US$180.39, reporting the largest increase in that metric, followed by Beijing with a 17.6% increase to US$121.74.

- Tokyo jumped 107.0% in ADR to US$152.39, achieving the largest increase in that metric. Four other markets posted RevPAR increases of more than 20%: Osaka (+26.1% to US$118.60); Beijing (+23.5% to US$88.72); Taipei (+21.3% to US$155.56); and Phuket (+20.8% to US$99.62).

- New Delhi reported the largest decreases in ADR (-24.8% to US$132.85) and RevPAR (-27.2% to US$82.97) for the month.

Americas

The Americas region reported a 1.4% increase in occupancy to 61.8%, a 4.3% gain in ADR to US$108.25 and a 5.8% jump in RevPAR to US$66.95.

Among the region's key markets, Santiago, Chile, reported the largest occupancy increase, rising 7.3% to 74.2%, followed by Chicago, Illinois (+6.1% to 66.3%), and Los Angeles, California (+6.1% to 75.2%). Panama City, Panama, fell 8.8% in occupancy to 54.8%, ending the month with the largest occupancy decrease, followed by Sao Paulo, Brazil, with a 6.7% decrease to 65.5%.

Three markets experienced double-digit ADR increases: Santiago (+21.1% to US$209.66); San Francisco, California (+11.3% to US$152.44); and Chicago (+10.1% to US$119.96). Panama City fell 15.4% in ADR to US$118.14, reporting the only double-digit decrease in that metric.

Santiago (+29.9% to US$155.57) and Chicago (+16.8% to US$79.50) achieved the largest RevPAR increases for the month. Panama City fell 22.9% in RevPAR to US$64.77, posting the largest decrease in that metric.

Europe

The European hotel industry posted mixed results in year-on-year metrics when reported in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds for April 2012.

"The European hotel market continued on a positive footing, with increases in all three performance indicators in euro terms," said Ms. Randall. "April's demand was up by 2.1% across the region compared to last year. Out of the 31 cities tracked in our European Hotel Review, Frankfurt (Germany) and Brussels (Belgium) achieved the highest RevPAR growth for the month, both boosted by trade-fair activities. Brussels hosted the European Seafood Exposition in April this year. The event took place during May in Brussels last year and therefore boosted the April performance. Frankfurt benefited from the biennial Light+Building trade fair, which will return to the city in 2014."

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

- Bratislava, Slovakia, rose 23.8% in occupancy to 52.5%, reporting the largest increase in that metric, followed by Reykjavik, Iceland, with a 17.8% increase to 67.1%.

- Athens, Greece, reported the largest occupancy decrease, falling 13.0% to 53.4%. Occupancy in Milan, Italy, fell -10.2% to 61.3%.

- Four markets ended the month with ADR increases of 15% or more: Brussels, Belgium (+23.2% to EUR121.09); Frankfurt, Germany (+18.9% to EUR133.34); Tallinn, Estonia (+16.3% to EUR65.19); and London, United Kingdom (+15.0% to EUR160.52).

- Bratislava fell 13.1% in ADR to EUR62.58, posting the largest decrease in that metric.

- Frankfurt jumped 31.8% in RevPAR to EUR85.61, experiencing the largest increase in that metric, followed by Brussels with a 30.1% increase to EUR84.25.

- Athens reported the only double-digit RevPAR decrease, falling 19.0% to EUR48.45.

Middle East/Africa

In April 2012, the region's occupancy jumped 10.0% to 63.9%, its ADR fell 3.6% to US$172.56 and its RevPAR rose 6.1% to US$110.33.

"Northern Africa continued to report strong bounces off weaker occupancy performance last year," Ms Randall said. "The Middle East put in a solid performance with the fifth month of consecutive occupancy growth supported by eight months of consecutive demand improvements. Whilst Southern Africa as a region reported RevPAR declines in USD for the month and year to date, South Africa is continuing to see growth and reported RevPAR increases in local currency for the same time frames."

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

- Manama, Bahrain, jumped 69.5% in occupancy to 42.5%, reporting the largest increase in that metric, followed by Cairo, Egypt, with a 67.8% increase to 52.5%.

- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (-13.5% to 59.7%), and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (-11.3% to 65.5%), posted the largest occupancy decreases for the month.

- Manama rose 30.4% in ADR to US$242.35, reporting the largest increase in that metric, followed by Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with a 10.7% increase to US$281.91.

- Two markets experienced double-digit ADR decreases: Cape Town, South Africa (-14.6% to US$123.63), and Cairo (-13.0% to US$100.56).

- Four markets experienced RevPAR increases of more than 25%: Manama (+121.1% to US$103.10); Cairo (+46.1% to US$52.76); Amman, Jordan (+30.7% to US$116.02); and Muscat, Oman (+27.5% to US$174.93).

- Riyadh ended the month with the largest RevPAR decrease, falling 16.7% to US$175.40, followed by Abu Dhabi with a 14.0% decrease to US$98.45.

See other recent news regarding: Travel News Asia, Interviews, Pictures, Sports Tourism, Videos, STR, April 2012