by Calculated Risk on 10/22/2009 12:14:00 PM

From HotelNewsNow.com: Houston leads losses in STR weekly numbers

Overall, in year-over-year measurements, the industry’s occupancy fell 8.1 percent to end the week at 58.9 percent. ADR dropped 8.5 percent to finish the week at US$99.14. RevPAR for the week decreased 16.0 percent to finish at US$58.42.

Click on graph for larger image in new window.

This graph shows the occupancy rate by week for each of the last four years (2006 through 2009 labeled by start of month).

Notes: the scale doesn't start at zero to better show the change. Thanksgiving was late in 2008, so the dip doesn't line up with the previous years.

Data Source: Smith Travel Research, Courtesy of HotelNewsNow.com

The above graph shows the distinct seasonal pattern for occupancy.

The occupancy rate is higher in the summer (because of leisure travel), and lower on certain holidays. This also shows that hotels are in two year occupancy slump. The year-over-year comparisons are easier now since business travel fell off a cliff last October. Comparing to the same week two years ago, occupancy rates are off 15%.

The HotelNewsNow press release has three graphs on daily occupancy, room rates, and RevPAR variance with 2008.

This graph shows the RevPAR variance by day, and indicates that business travel (weekdays) is off more than leisure travel (weekends). This has been an ongoing story ...

So far there is little evidence of an increase in business travel this Fall.