U.S. Hotel Occupancy Falls Despite a Rise in Air Travel

Weekly occupancy at U.S. hotels fell by 1.5 percent to an average of 61.7 percent, according to a press release by STR. The drop came despite an increase in air travel. Normally, an uptick in air passengers results in an increase in hotel demand.

A related report by STR provided greater detail:

26 September through 2 October 2021 (percentage change from comparable week in 2019*):

  • Occupancy: 61.7% (-9.2%)
  • Average daily rate (ADR): US$130.87 (+1.2%)
  • Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$80.78 (-8.2%) 

Among the Top 25 Markets, Phoenix recorded the only occupancy increase over 2019 (+1.8% to 66.0%). The market also recorded the largest RevPAR gain when compared with 2019 (+15.2% to US$88.82).

Oahu Island experienced the steepest occupancy decline from 2019 (-43.8% to 46.1%).

Miami reported the largest ADR increase when compared with 2019 (+20.6% to US$174.10).

The largest RevPAR deficits were in San Francisco/San Mateo (-52.6% to US$97.51) and Oahu Island (-50.1% to US$94.06).