The average price of a room on Kaua‘i jumping $12 to $180.94, but that didn’t stop folks from checking in. Kaua‘i’s hotel occupancy rate for April was second best in the state, at 76.2 percent, just behind Maui, with an
The average price of a room on Kaua‘i jumping $12 to $180.94, but that didn’t stop folks from checking in.
Kaua‘i’s hotel occupancy rate for April was second best in the state, at 76.2 percent, just behind Maui, with an average 80.9 percent.
Also, Kaua‘i saw revenue of $138 per available room, a state-leading jump of $22.
“The kind of tourist we’re getting here is a more sophisticated traveler,” said Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau.
“They’re willing to pay more for air, more for rooms. And now we can charge what we’re worth.”
While the numbers are good, the rise in airline fuel costs and on-going economic and geo-political concerns caused uncertainty in the market, despite recent gains, according to industry leaders.
Hospitality Advisors LLC officials reported that the statewide average daily rate for a hotel room in April was $154.25, up from $148.94 in the year-ago period.
Revenue per available room, a measure of hotel financial performance, was $114.25, compared to $98.89 in April 2003.
The most expensive hotel rooms were on Maui, where rates averaged $198.21 per day.
The least expensive rooms on average were on O‘ahu, at $119.28 daily.
Statewide, upscale hotels were fullest in April, averaging 76.8 percent occupancy, while budget hotels posted the lowest average occupancy rate, at 71.3 percent.
Hawai‘i hotels were about three-fourths full in April, up significantly from last year, as the visitor industry continues to recover from the double blows dealt by the Iraq war and SARS epidemic and prepares for a promising summer season.
Hospitality Advisors officials said 1.44 million room nights were sold in April statewide.
The data comes from a survey of more than 160 properties representing about 50,300 rooms, or 75 percent of all lodging properties with 20 rooms or more in the state.
Business Editor Phil Hayworth may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or phayworth@pulitzer.net.
