U.S. Hotel Performance for May 2009

According to data compiled by STR, the U.S. hotel industry posted declines in all three key performance measurements during May 2009.

In year-over-year measurements, the U.S. hotel industry's occupancy fell 11.8% to end the month of May 2009 at 55.7%. The average daily rate dropped 9.8% to finish the month at US$97.03. Revenue per available room for the month decreased 20.4% to finish at US$54.05.

"Again in May, industry results were disappointing as they continued the downward spiral seen each month so far this year," said Mark Lomanno, president of STR. "While demand has not gotten any worse over the past several months, we are becoming increasingly alarmed at the accelerating decline in average room rates. Despite the dismal results throughout the first half of the year, we continue to expect to see better numbers this summer, at least compared to the dreary results to date."

Highlights from the Top 25 Markets in the U.S. include:

- None of the Top 25 Markets reported increases in any of the three metrics.

- Oahu Island, Hawaii, was the only market to report an occupancy decrease of less than 5%, falling 4.9% to 69.2%.

- Detroit, Michigan, led the occupancy decreases, falling 20.2% to 46.7%.

Other markets to report occupancy decreases of 15% or more include: New Orleans, Louisiana (-16.8% to 57%); Houston, Texas (-15.7% to 57%); Chicago, Illinois (-15.6% to 59%); Phoenix, Arizona (-15.5% to 49.5%); Dallas, Texas (-15% to 49.1%).

- Nashville, Tennessee, reported the smallest ADR decrease, dropping 4.1% to US$90.69.

- New York was the only market to report a drop in ADR of more than 20%, falling 29.4% to US$201.13.

- Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Virginia, reported a 13.6%decrease in RevPAR to US$48.11, the smallest among the top 25 markets.

- Six markets reported RevPAR decreases of more than 25%: New York (-35.7% to US$159.82); Chicago (-29.5% to US$70.38); Phoenix (-28.6% to US$48.41); Detroit (-27.9% to US$36.72); New Orleans (-27.2% to US$63.19); and San Diego, California (-26.1% to US$77.49).

See other recent news regarding: Travel News Asia, STR, April 2009, May 2009