by Calculated Risk on 12/15/2011 01:34:00 PM

This is one of the industry specific metrics I track - from HotelNewsNow.com: New Orleans hotels top weekly performance gains

Overall, the U.S. hotel industry’s occupancy increased 3.2% to 53.5%, its ADR increased 3.6% to US$102.12 and its RevPAR finished the week with an increase of 6.9% to US$54.65.

Note: ADR: Average Daily Rate, RevPAR: Revenue per Available Room.

The following graph shows the seasonal pattern for the hotel occupancy rate using a four week average.

Click on graph for larger image.

This year is almost over! The 4-week average of the occupancy rate will decline until mid-January and then start to increase again (the normal seasonal pattern). February and March are the next key period - that is when business travel usually picks up.

Right now the occupancy rate is running at the median rate for 2000 - 2007. But this is just the occupancy rate, room rates are still lower than before the recession.

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

Earlier:
• Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims decline to 366,000
• Industrial Production decreased 0.2% in November, Capacity Utilization decreased
• Empire State and Philly Fed Manufacturing Indexes show improvement in December