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Hotel occupancy Every island saw a big improvement in its hotel business last month, driving statewide occupancy up almost 6 percentage points to 83.1 percent from 77.2 percent in July last year, a survey shows.
jumps again
Room rates gained for
all islands except MolokaiTim Ruel
Star-Bulletin
Moreover, the average daily price for a room rose in every market except Molokai, according to the monthly survey by industry consulting firm PKF-Hawaii. The statewide average price jumped 5.5 percent to $152.73 a night from $144.78 last year, making July the 13th consecutive month of rate increases.
"If the current trending continues, Hawaii's hotel and tourism industries will see a record year of achievement," said Ernie Watari, chairman and chief executive of PKF-Hawaii.
For the year through July, statewide occupancy is at 78.8 percent, up more than 5 percentage points from 73.5 percent in the same period last year.
For last month, the Big Island saw the highest increase in occupancy in the state, up nearly 10 percentage points to 82.1 percent from 72.6 percent a year earlier. The island's average room prices rose to $169.20 from $164.27. Oahu's occupancy hit 82.3 percent, up from 75.7 percent in July 1999, and the average room rate rose to $122.29 from $116.59 a year earlier. Waikiki beachfront hotel occupancy rose to 85.8 percent from 78.2 percent, and rates increased to $160.82 from $150.01. Waikiki's budget hotels reached $73.06 per room, up from $70.21, with occupancy at 80.8 percent, up from 75.3 percent.
Maui's occupancy, the highest in the state, equaled 85.6 percent, up from 82.5 percent in July 1999, with rates rising to $192.75 from $177.42. On Kauai, occupancy rose to 84.5 percent from 80.3 percent, with rates going up to $171.43 from $158.61. Molokai's occupancy rose to 39.4 percent from 35.7 last year, while the average room prices fell 6 cents to $72.81 from $72.87.