February's occupancy level is a 5.1 percentage point boost over the February 2003 level, according to figures released by Hospitality Advisors LLC yesterday.

"February continues to provide good news for Hawai'i's hotel industry," said Hospitality Advisors president Joseph Toy.

The hotel performance figures follow an earlier state report of a 6 percent increase in visitor arrivals in February, driven by strong travel from the Mainland offsetting a drop in Japanese arrivals. The state figures also showed a 12.3 percent increase in visitors coming to Hawai'i for meetings, conventions and incentive trips.

Every class of hotel had higher occupancy levels in comparison with year-ago levels, from budget to luxury properties. Hotels on all islands posted increases in occupancy levels and in the average daily room rate.

Waikiki was a major beneficiary of the sporting events and business meetings going on. Hotel occupancy in Waikiki reached 86.6 percent, 5.3 percentage points higher than the same month a year ago.

Occupancy levels were 83.4 percent on Maui, 80.3 percent on Kaua'i and 75.7 percent on the Big Island.

The average daily room rate was $152.52 in February, up from $148.68 in the same period a year ago. Luxury properties brought in an average of $248.06 per room, while budget hotels charged an average rate of $70.66.

Maui hotels charged the most on average at $199.22, while O'ahu had the lowest average rate of $122.72.

The average revenue per available room, a measure of the financial performance of hotels, increased to $127.37 from $116.59 in February 2003.

The Hospitality Advisors hotel survey averages over 160 properties representing about 50,300 rooms, or 75 percent of all lodging properties with 20 rooms or more.