Hawaii Hotel Occupancy, Rates Dip

For the week ending Feb. 18, Hawaii hotel occupancy figures stood at 75 percent, down 2 percentage points from the same period last year. Average room rates for the state, however, were significantly lower, sinking 12.5 percent, to $180, compared with 2008.

According to a weekly industry survey conducted by Hospitality Advisors and Smith Travel Research, Maui room rates took the biggest hit, plunging 17.7 percent to an average of $229. Occupancy rates, though, remained reasonably steady, down only 1.8 points, to 78 percent islandwide.

Room rate figures were also sharply lower on the Big Island, where the average price dropped 12.2 percent, to $171. Occupancy there was down nearly 5 points, to 67.3 percent. Kauai’s average room rates ended the week at $194, falling 9.2 percent.

Occupancy figures for the island dipped 7.2 points, to 72.2 percent. Oahu room rates, perhaps now offering the best value, also fell 9.2 percent for an islandwide average of $154. Off only a slight .7 percent, its occupancy rate stood at 76.2 percent.