Hawaii Hotel Occupancy Up in January

The number of visitors staying in Hawaii hotel rooms in January rose 1.7 percentage points, the first statewide increase in Hawaii hotel occupancy since April 2006.

According to data compiled by Smith Travel Research and Hospitality Advisors, 75.7 percent of hotel rooms on the four major islands were filled during the month.
Demand (there was a 4.1 percent increase in visitor arrivals for the month) helped boost occupancy and the average daily rate (ADR).

The statewide ADR grew 6.5 percent in January, to $213.49, contributing to an 8.9 percent gain in revenue per available room, to $161.68. Increases in convention attendees (30.3 percent), sports travel (20.6 percent) and independent travelers (9.7 percent) contributed to the gain, according to the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT).

On the downside, the DBEDT report shows group tours down 11.9 percent, package trips down 4.3 percent and cruise ship arrivals down 10.8 percent.

The Wailea resort area on Maui reported a 25.7 percent increase in revenue per available room (RevPAR) in January, to $347.17. This was driven by a 6.8 point rise in occupancy combined with a 14.6 percent jump in ADR for Wailea hotels, to $448.51. Overall, Maui ADR reached $282.58, a 9.1 percent increase. Maui occupancy increased one point, to 77.2 percent.

Oahu occupancy increased 1.8 points, to 76.7 percent. Oahu’s ADR increased 4.8 percent, to $177.12.

The Big Island saw a 1.4 point increase in occupancy, to 71.2 percent, and a 7.7 percent ADR gain, to $223.27.

Kauai occupancy rose 3.2 points, to 73.1 percent, despite a 3.2 percent decrease in visitor arrivals, which was blamed largely on a drop in cruise visitors to the island. ADR grew 6.7 percent, to $217.15.

The number of visitors who arrived in Hawaii by ship or by air to board a cruise ship fell 16.3 percent, to 37,699 visitors for the month, a drop that is being attributed to two less ship tours for the month compared with the same month last year and the withdrawal of the home-ported Norwegian Wind in April 2007.