State's hotels 74 percent full in April
By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i hotels were about three-fourths full in April, up significantly from last year as the visitor industry continues to recover from the double blows dealt by the Iraq war and SARS epidemic and prepares for a promising summer season.
Research firm Hospitality Advisors LLC reported that hotel occupancy increased to 74.1 percent last month compared to 66.4 percent in April 2003.
"April was an exceptional month for us," said Kelvin Bloom, president of Aston Hotels & Resorts. "We really saw the gains across the board — O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i and the Big Island."
Maui hotels were the fullest last month, with an average 80.9 percent occupancy rate.
Kaua'i hotels averaged 76.2 percent occupancy, followed by O'ahu at 71.4 percent and the Big Island at 70.1 percent.
Each of the islands recorded increases in rooms filled over April 2003. O'ahu had the largest gains because it was hit the hardest by double-digit declines in Japanese tourism last year.
The statewide average daily rate for a hotel room in April was $154.25, up from $148.94 in the year-ago period. Revenue per available room, a measure of hotel financial performance, was $114.25 compared to $98.89 in April 2003.
The most expensive hotel rooms were on Maui, where rates averaged $198.21 per day. The least expensive rooms on average were on O'ahu at $119.28 daily.
Upscale hotels were fullest in April, averaging 76.8 percent occupancy.
Budget hotels posted the lowest average occupancy rate at 71.3 percent.
According to Hospitality Advisors, the total number of hotel room nights sold in April was about 1.44 million, reflecting the impact of a preliminary 14 percent increase in visitor arrivals reported by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
"We saw a very soft market last year, so the big percentages are really reflective of the recovery during that period of time," said Joseph Toy, president of Hospitality Advisors. "That being said, we are seeing a really strong recovery."
For the year through April, hotels were 78.6 percent full on average statewide, up from 72.3 percent in the same period of 2003.
The average daily rate was $153.18 in the first four months of this year, up from $149.46 in the same period last year.
Bloom said summer bookings continue to build and are ahead of the level at the same time last year.
"It's not back up to the (2000) peak yet, but it's made nice gains, so from our perspective it's nothing to complain about," he said.
Although the tourism industry has experienced gains recently, economic and geopolitical concerns and the rise in airline fuel costs provide some market uncertainty, Toy noted.
The hotel survey is compiled by Smith Travel Research with Hospitality Advisors. The survey is based on responses from more than 160 properties representing about 50,300 rooms, or 75 percent of all lodging properties with 20 rooms or more in the state.
Reach Kelly Yamanouchi at kyamanouchi@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2470.
