Occupancy
strong at Kauai
luxury hotels

A survey shows that the 88 percent
rate in April highlighted a mixed
picture for Hawaii properties

By Peter Wagner
Star-Bulletin

Luxury hotels, particularly those on Kauai, were the star performers in an otherwise lackluster April survey of hotel occupancy in Hawaii, according to newly released data.

The survey, by industry monitor PKF-Hawaii, shows Kauai's luxury hotels topping islandwide occupancy in April with 88 percent.

Statewide, occupancy in luxury hotels averaged 74.2 percent in April, up from 73.6 percent last year.

Also on the upswing were budget hotels, averaging 71.4 percent, almost a 1 percent increase over last year.

Midrange accommodations, ranging from standard to first class, showed stagnant or falling numbers.

The new numbers, released by PFK yesterday, show how individual segments did within a faltering industry.

Overall hotel occupancy fell about 1 percent in April, to 69.45 percent statewide.

Those figures, released last month, reversed earlier signs of a recovery after a two-year decline in hotel occupancy in Hawaii.

Meanwhile, room rates increased at luxury and budget hotels, the April survey shows. Average rates at luxury hotels went up to $249.07 a night from $246.24 and budget rates climbed slightly to $43.60 from $43.08.

The largest increase in room rates came at deluxe hotels on Kauai, charging an average of $121.08 in April versus $111.15 last year.