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Maui hotels top pre-pandemic revenue numbers and rest of state in September

Maui County hotels in September bested other counties and even topped pre-pandemic revenue numbers despite having lower occupancy than its milestone year, according to a recent report by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Revenue per available room was $289 in September, a roughly 25 percent increase over the same timeframe in 2019, which was a record-breaking year for statewide arrivals. Meanwhile, Maui County’s average daily rate was $488, a more than 54 percent increase over 2019, while occupancy dropped nearly 14 percentage points to 59.2 percent compared with 2019, said HTA’s Hawaii Hotel Performance report released Oct. 20.

Maui’s luxury resort region of Wailea had room revenue of $366, a 3.5 percent drop compared with 2019, along with an average daily rate of $682, a 48 percent spike over 2019, and an occupancy of nearly 54 percent, a 28.7-percentage point drop from 2019.

The Lahaina/Kaanapali/Kapalua region had room revenue of $258, a 30 percent increase over 2019; average daily rate of $416, a 51 percent increase over 2019; and occupancy of 62 percent, a 9.8-percentage point drop from 2019.

In a comparison of international markets, hotels in the Maldives ranked highest in room revenue for international “sun and sea” destinations at $337, followed by French Polynesia ($315) and Maui County ($303). The island of Hawaii, Kauai and Oahu ranked fourth, sixth and ninth, respectively.

Statewide room revenue in September was $168, with average daily rate at $304 and occupancy of 55.2 percent. Compared with September 2019, room revenue was 13.5 percent lower, driven by a 24 percent lower occupancy, which could not be offset by increased daily rates.

Statewide, Hawaii hotel room revenues in September reached $270 million, a 13 percent reduction compared to the same month in 2019. Room demand was 887,100 room nights, a roughly 30 percent decline compared to 2019. And room supply was 1.6 million nights, which is flat when compared with 2019.

In comparison to the top U.S. markets during the first nine months of 2021, the Hawaiian Islands earned the highest room revenue at $177. Miami was second at $143, followed by New York at $101.

Hawaii also led U.S. markets in average daily rates at $317, followed by Miami at $216 and New York at $182.

With the U.S. Mainland accessible for road trips and short-haul intercontinental flights, Hawaii’s occupancy continued to be lower than many destinations in top 25 markets, landing at the 11th spot. Tampa, Fla., topped the country in occupancy at 68.9 percent.

The report’s findings utilized data compiled by STR Inc., which conducts the largest and most comprehensive survey of hotel properties in the Hawaiian Islands.

For September, the survey included 144 properties representing 46,094 rooms, or 85.4 percent of all lodging properties and 86 percent of operating lodging properties with 20 rooms or more in the Hawaiian Islands, including those offering full service, limited service and condominium hotels. Vacation rental and timeshare properties were not included in this survey.

Tables of hotel performance statistics, including data presented in the report are available for viewing online at: www.hawaiitourismauthority .org/research/infrastructure-research/.

* Kehaulani Cerizo can be reached at kcerizo@mauinews.com.

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