Occupancy A return of Japanese visitors helped push Oahu hotel and resort occupancy within reach of 2000 levels in November. But room revenue, an all-important financial indicator, remains well below what it was in 2000, according to the latest monthly survey from accounting firm PKF-Hawaii.
on way back
Rates at Oahu hotels and resorts
are gaining on levels last seen in 2000Star-Bulletin staff
Statewide, average occupancy moved up to 68.6 percent last month from 60.7 percent in November 2001, PKF said. That's still down from occupancy of 76.5 percent in November 2000. Revenue per available room bounced back to $89.49 from $80.56 last year, but remained far below $110.70 from 2000.
Oahu occupancy jumped 27 percent to 74.1 percent from a staggeringly low 58.3 percent in November last year.
In 2000, Oahu occupancy was 78.9 percent. Room revenue on Oahu rose to $69.93 from $52.17 last year, but was down from $96.85 in 2000. Room rates followed the same pattern.
"Contributing to the increase on Oahu is the large influx of Japanese visitor arrivals in comparison to November 2001, which saw dramatic decreases due to the Sept. 11 tragedy," said Ernie Watari, chief executive of PKF.
Compared to the rotten results of November 2001, room revenue and occupancy improved on most islands, except Maui, where revenue fell 3.1 percent from 2001.
Maui occupancy fell to 64.6 percent from 67.2 percent last year, which was down from 76.9 percent in 2000. So, despite having the highest average room rates in the state, Maui's room revenue dipped to $117.52 from $121.30 last year.
Big Island occupancy was up to 64 percent from 56.7 percent last year, and down from 72.3 percent in 2000. Big Isle room revenues rose to $102.33 from $90.64, putting it on the road to recovering to its $121.94 average in 2000. Room rates were flat at $160.
On Kauai, occupancy improved slightly to 63 percent from 61.8 percent, leaving it well below the year 2000 level of 70 percent. Similarly, room revenues increased to $87.04 from $84.57, and were well off the 2000 level of $111.34. Rates were primarily flat at $138.
Molokai hotels were slightly more than half full in November, at 53.1 percent occupancy from 48.4 percent last year. Room revenue increased to $44.62 from $40.36 on the Friendly Isle.
