STR and STR Global, respectively the parent and sister companies of HotelNewsNow.com, today released a bounty of April data for the global hotel industry.
Americas: The Americas region recorded positive results in the three key performance metrics when reported in U.S. dollars for April 2011.
The region ended April with a 4.7% increase in occupancy to 61.2%, average daily rate was up 3.3% to US$103.53, and revenue per available room rose 8.1% for the month to US$63.35.
Europe: The European hotel industry posted positive results in year-over-year metrics when reported in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds for April 2011, according to data compiled by STR Global.
Highlights include:
- Four markets achieved occupancy increases of more than 20%: Venice, Italy (+33.2% to 79%); Budapest, Hungary (+24.3% to 69.1%); Prague (+22.7% to 75.5%); and Florence, Italy (+21.2% to 76.6%).
- Salzburg, Austria (+25.8% to EUR97.68, or US$136.88) and Paris (+16.7% to EUR219.91, or US$308.16) reported the largest ADR increases for the month.
- Four markets experienced RevPAR increases of more than 25%: Venice (+45.6% to EUR203.88, or US$285.71); Florence (+32.6% to EUR110.15, or US$154.36); Paris (+28.5% to EUR181.29, or US$254.06); and Salzburg (+27% to EUR59.38, or US$83.21).
Asia/Pacific: Hotels in the Asia/Pacific region experienced mostly positive results in the three key performance metrics during April 2011 when reported in U.S. dollars.
In year-over-year measurements, the Asia/Pacific region’s occupancy fell 2.1% to 64.7%, ADR increased 14.6% to US$143.99, and RevPAR jumped 12.2% to US$93.19.
Middle East/Africa: The Middle East/Africa region reported mixed performance results during April 2011 when reported in U.S. dollars.
The region’s occupancy ended the month with a 9.7% decrease to 59%, its ADR rose 10.8% to US$176.82, and its RevPAR ended the month virtually flat with a 0.1% increase to US$104.25.
Surprise, surprise: Another study finds hotels are losing big to online competitors.
A report from MarkMonitor, a company that specializes in enterprise brand protection, concludes that “Brandjacking” costs hotels US$2.2 billion a year in lost online traffic and commissions. More than 580 million visits from travelers are directed away, too.
The story of the hotel industry’s recovery is a multi-faceted one, as described by Bobby Bowers, senior VP at STR.
During an interview at STR’s Hendersonville, Tennessee, headquarters last week, Bowers outlined eight trends that are shaping recovery, reports HotelNewsNow.com Features Editor Patrick Mayock.
A snap-back in demand has been one of those keys to recovery. “We’ve seen some really significant growth in terms of room demand, especially in 2010,” Bowers said. “That’s again kind of a function of how badly it was damaged or went down in 2009. We saw this really huge snap back, which really was the biggest demand growth that we’ve tracked since STR’s been around,” Bowers said.
The hotel industry’s transactions market is in a period of recovery, too, as evidenced by KSL Capital Partners’ deal for the InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona.
KSL paid approximately US$115 million for the 293-room property that was foreclosed on two years ago, reports The Wall Street Journal.
KSL will replace InterContinental Hotels Group PLC as the resort's manager and will drop InterContinental from its name. The resort will remain in InterContinental's reservation system, however, and its customers still will be able to earn and redeem points from its loyalty program there, the Journal reports.
Choice Hotels International is “stepping up” its guest experience at Comfort brands through the rollout of its Truly Yours design program, reports HotelNewsNow.com’s Stacey Higgins.
“We haven’t asked you to invest, just maintain rooms in good condition,” Christina Williamson, senior director of brand planning and management for the Comfort brand family, told attendees at Choice Hotels International’s 57th Annual Convention at the Boston Convention Center. “But we’ve spent the last 18 months examining the guest experience.”
Highlights of Truly Yours include:
- Your Choice pillow program;
- a “Welcome Wall” behind the reception desk featuring a stone backdrop with soft candle-like lighting;
- lobby fireplace; and
- guestroom flat-screen TVs.
Compiled by Shawn A. Turner.