Hotels reflect drop in arrivals

Advertiser Staff

Hotels across the state continued to struggle with the aftereffects of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and ensuing drop in travel last month, posting their 10th consecutive monthly drop in occupancy, according to the latest figures from hotel consulting firm PKF-Hawaii.

Statewide occupancy was 60 percent, more than 20 percent lower from the same time last year, according to the report released yesterday.

The data mirrors visitor arrival figures released earlier this week showing tourists to the state dropped 27 percent in November from a year ago.

Waikiki hotels were among the hardest hit, registering an occupancy rate of 57 percent in November, down nearly 28 percent compared with the same month last year.

Still, all islands continued to feel the effects, with all posting drops in occupancy. The combined average for the Neighbor Islands was 61.99 percent, a decrease of 16 percent compared with November 2000.

O'ahu recorded a 25 percent drop, the Big Island showed a 22 percent drop, and Maui had a 13 percent drop. Kaua'i fared the best of all the major islands in November, off only 9.5 percent from the same month a year ago.

Room rates also dropped, with the statewide average daily room rate for November slipping 0.83 percent ($136.81 vs. $137.96) compared with November 2000.

Year to date, statewide occupancy is about 73 percent, down nearly 8 percent compared with the same period last year. The average daily room rate statewide is down about 4 percent for the same period.

The combination of a weak economy and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks are expected to cause the nation's hotels to record their lowest levels of occupancy since the 1991 Gulf War.

PKF-Hawaii surveys 130 properties on all islands.