Hotels find September still slower than usual

By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hotels continued to find trouble filling rooms last month as economic uncertainty and a weak travel market took their toll, according to the latest figures from hotel consulting firm PKF Hawaii LLP.

Statewide hotel occupancy was 65.4 percent in September — low compared to the last 10 years but a 13 percent improvement over the same month last year when terrorist attacks shut down travel, according to the report released yesterday.

All of the islands saw increases in occupancy from the same month last year, with the largest increase of 38.7 percent in Hilo.

The figures are based on a survey of 74 hotels and 61 resort condominiums.

The average daily room rate fell 2.8 percent statewide for the month, averaging $128.60 this year compared with $132.24 last year. Meanwhile, revenue per available room at $84.14 was up 10 percent.

Year-to-date, hotel occupancy statewide is 73.3 percent, down 2.4 percent from last year. The average daily room rate is down 4.4 percent at $147.75 compared with $154.54 last year. Revenue per available room for the year so far is $108.23, compared with $115.97, a drop of 6.7 percent. The only islands that have increased occupancy for the year to date are Kaua'i and Moloka'i. The only island to increase the average daily rate was Moloka'i, up 1.9 percent.

PKF also compared this year's figures to 2000. Statewide occupancy is down 16.8 percent compared with 2000 levels. The average daily rate is down 10.5 percent and revenue per available room decreased 27.5 percent compared with two years ago.

And, the last quarter of the year "doesn't look really promising," said Daisy Aio, PKF's director of tourism consulting. Occupancy for 2001 was 71.9 percent and Aio said 2002 occupancy may end up in the 72 to 73 percent range.