Posted on: Friday, February 18, 2005
Occupancy rates get bigger boost
| • | Hotel occupancy |
By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
This year's Pro Bowl generated higher occupancy and revenue for O'ahu hotels than last year's event, according to a study released yesterday by Hospitality Advisors LLC.
Ben Margot • Associated Press "Pro Bowl week has become one of the major recurring highlights during Hawai'i's winter high season," said Joseph Toy, president of Hospitality Advisors. "The 2005 Pro Bowl that was nationally televised was particularly an outstanding event given the perfect weather the game enjoyed last Sunday."
Average daily room rates at O'ahu hotels during the week before the Pro Bowl were $145.52, up from $126.61 last year. That helped to push up revenue per available room from $99.26 in 2004 to $125.58 this year.
A sellout crowd of 50,225 watched Sunday's game at the Aloha Stadium. The Hawai'i Tourism Authority is expected to release a study on the economic impact from the Pro Bowl next week.
Last year's Pro Bowl drew 49,000 spectators, including some 30,000 visitors, according to the HTA's 2004 study. An estimated 22,000 of those visitors came specifically for the Pro Bowl, spending $29.5 million and contributing $2.84 million in state taxes, the study said.
Hospitality Advisors' weekly hotel report is based on a daily hotel survey of about 99 properties representing 38,570 rooms, or 60 percent of the state's total hotel rooms for properties with at least 20 units.
Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 535-2470.
O'ahu hotels recorded an average occupancy of 86.3 percent during the week before Sunday's Pro Bowl, up from 78.4 percent during the 2004 Pro Bowl week, Feb. 1-7. This year, Waikiki hotels enjoyed 88 percent occupancy, 8.8 percentage points higher than last year.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler signed autographs after an NFC practice for the Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. Occupancy at O'ahu hotels averaged 86.3 percent the week before Sunday's game, up from 78.4 percent during 2004's Pro Bowl week.
