Revenue per available room in the US hotel industry increased 8% in September, reversing the 2.2% growth seen in August. The Labor Day calendar shift positively impacted September numbers, unlike the effect of the August calendar shift. The forecast for annual revenue growth remains at 6.8%, implying some increase in the fourth quarter. Economy hotels increased room rates 6.3% while upper-upscale hotels grew rates 2.4%, and lower-rated chains outperformed high-end hotels.

1. © 2015 STR, Inc. All Rights Reserved. illustrations: jon edwards
evenue per available room for the United States hotel industry was up 8% during September, after
August’s growth of 2.2%. It’s the reverse of the August calendar comp. Whereas that calendar shift had
negative implications for August, the Labor Day shift had a positive effect on the September numbers,
according to an analysis by Jan Freitag, senior VP of lodging insights for HNN’s parent company STR.
STR’s forecast for the year still stands at
6.8% REVPAR GROWTH, implying a little bit
of a bump in the fourth quarter.
Sept. RevPAR
UP 8%
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
September was the fifth month in
a row that the industry sold more
than 100 MILLION ROOMS, a
record streak.
FIVE
Economy hotels were able to increase room rates 6.3%,
whereas UPPER-UPSCALE HOTELS increased average
daily rate 2.4%.
6.3%ECONOMY HOTELS
Source: STR, Inc.
4.6%Room demand
increased
The lower-rated chain scales
outperformed the high end.
lower-rated high end
Occupancy changes from
transient travelers are
tepid at best.
Seven had occupancies of more
than 80%, and San Francisco
clocked in at 90.2%.