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U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE improved in the second week of May compared to the previous week, with positive year-over-year comparisons, according to CoStar. Key metrics such as occupancy, RevPAR, and ADR all increased week-over-week. Occupancy rose to 66.1 percent for the week ending May 11, up from 64.4 percent the previous week, representing a 2.1 percent year-over-year increase. ADR increased to $162.14 from $159.97, a 4.4 percent rise compared to last year. RevPAR reached $107.24, up from $103.09 the prior week, showing a 6.6 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Among the top 25 markets, San Francisco reported the highest year-over-year increases in each of the three key performance metrics: occupancy increased by 20.6 percent to 79.3 percent, ADR rose by 54.5 percent to $313.13, and RevPAR increased by 86.3 percent to $248.28. The market's performance was boosted by the RSA Conference.

IN ANOTHER SIGN of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's Super Bowl is expected to bring increases in hotel business to host city Los Angeles, according to STR. ADR and RevPAR are projected to reach the second-highest levels for any Super Bowl weekend on record. During the weekend of the game, Feb. 11 to 13, STR forecasts that ADR will reach $445 and RevPAR will be around $396 in the L.A. market. Occupancy is expected to hit 89 percent as fans flock in for the game. "Since July, the Los Angeles hotel market has consistently achieved monthly rates near or above pre-pandemic levels," said Blake Reiter, STR's director of custom forecasts. "Occupancy has been rapidly improving toward 2019 levels as well, but it hasn't reflected the same degree of recovery. We expect there will be, at least to a certain extent, a curtailing of occupancy because of COVID. Of course, if the NFL decides to switch venues as media reports have suggested, or implement more stringent protocols, L.A. hotel performance will certainly be among the ripple effects." Los Angeles's Super Bowl hotel occupancy is projected to outperform last year's venue, Tampa, Florida, which saw 82.4 percent occupancy when the home team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, defeated the Kansas City Chiefs. However, it is well below the 92.8 percent Miami saw when it hosted the game in 2020, and also is lower than what L.A. saw over the comparable weekend period in 2020, 87.7 percent.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE dropped in the first week of January from the prior week, although year-over-year comparisons showed improvement, according to CoStar. Key metrics, including occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR, all declined at the start of the New Year compared to the previous week. Occupancy was 46.8 percent for the week ending Jan. 6, down from the previous week's 50.1 percent and reflecting a 0.7 percent year-over-year decrease. ADR fell to $152.17, compared to the prior week's $163.58, showing a 7.2 percent increase from the previous year. RevPAR decreased to $71.28 from the prior week's $82.1, but rose 6.4 percent from the corresponding period in 2023. Among the top 25 markets, New Orleans saw the largest year-over-year increases in each of the three performance metrics. Its occupancy was up 36.5 percent to 61.2 percent, ADR was up 43.5 percent to $211.90 and RevPAR rose 95.9 percent to $129.62. The market's performance was boosted by the Sugar Bowl, FAN EXPO New Orleans and multiple Mardi Gras parades.

HELPED BY THE onset of spring break travel, U.S. hotels' performance bettered in the second week of March from the previous week, according to STR's latest data through 11 March. The top 25 markets were up on a weekly basis but still behind 2019 levels. Occupancy for the week ending March 11 came in at 64.7 percent up from 62.8 percent the week before, 2.8 percent more than the comparable week in 2022 and 7.5 percent below the comparable week in 2019. ADR stood at $158.20, up from $151.35 the previous week and also up 8.1 percent and 16.6 percent over the same month in 2022 and 2019, respectively. RevPAR was reported at $102.38, up from $95.06 the previous week, and an increase of 11.1 percent and 7.8 percent over the same month in 2022 and 2019. Among the top 25 markets, Washington, D.C., witnessed the highest year-over-year occupancy increase compared to 2019, up 21.8 percent to 67.6 percent. However, none of the Top 25 Markets saw an occupancy lift over 2019. Meanwhile, D.C. also registered the most substantial ADR increase at $183.86 against 2019, up 23.4 percent. D.C.'s RevPAR rate also climbed up 50.2 percent to $124.33 year-over-year. Anaheim reported the highest ADR increase for spring break week, up 51.4 percent to US$245.62 and RevPAR rose 42.2 percent to $189.81, when measuring against 2019.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE increased in the third week of February mainly due to Presidents' Day weekend, according to STR. The data research firm also reported improvement for the week compared to 2019. Occupancy was 59.1 percent for the week ending Feb. 19, up from 54.6 percent the week before and down 8.4 percent for the same period in 2019. ADR was $140.11 for the week, increased from $133.72 the week before and up 8.4 percent from two years ago. RevPAR was $82.87 for the week, up from $73 the week before and down just 0.8 percent from the same period two years ago. Norfolk/Virginia Beach recorded the only occupancy increase among STR's top 25 markets in the third week of February, up 5.7 percent to 55 percent, over 2019. According to the report, Miami posted the highest ADR increase during the period, increased 28 percent to $347.48, followed by Super Bowl LVI host, Los Angeles, which was up 26.4 percent to $225.07.

THE U.S. GENERAL Services Administration announced Wednesday a raise in its standard permissible per diem rates for federal travelers, reaching $166 for fiscal year 2024. This adjustment stems from a year-on-year increment of $9 in the lodging allowance, now set at $107. The rate will be applicable from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2024, GSA said. The per diem guidelines regulate the reimbursement of federal employees' lodging and meal expenses for official government travel. These guidelines involve a $9 increase to the continental U.S. lodging rate, as well as significant rate hikes in multiple non-standard areas. "GSA bases the maximum lodging allowances on historical ADR data, less 5 percent. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented declines in ADR, followed by a volatile hotel industry recovery," GSA said in a statement. "The ADR data available to establish fiscal year 2024 rates was from before the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency expired on May 11. Similar to the approach for fiscal year 2023, GSA made upward adjustments to ensure that maximum lodging allowances for federal travelers are sufficient in fiscal year 2024."

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE has increased in the second week of September compared to the previous week, according to CoStar. However, year-over-year comparisons remained mixed. Occupancy stood at 68.5 percent for the week ending on Oct. 14, a slight uptick from the previous week's 67.8 percent, and a marginal year-over-year decline of 2.3 percent. ADR increased to $164.25, up from the previous week's $163.19, marking a 3.2 percent surge compared to the previous year. RevPAR also showed improvement, reaching $112.51, surpassing the previous week's $110.68, and reflecting a 0.8 percent rise from 2022. Among the top 25 markets, Oahu Island experienced the highest year-over-year growth in occupancy, rising by 17.8 percent to reach 85.2 percent, while RevPAR increased by 29.7 percent to $243.22.

SPRING BREAK TRAVEL helped U.S. hotel performance to rise in the third week of March from the week before, according to STR. Occupancy for the week was the highest since the week ending Aug. 7, 2021, and ADR was the second highest on record. Occupancy was 66.9 percent for the week ending March 19, up from 63.2 percent the week before and down 3.7 percent for the same period in 2019. ADR was $151.63 for the week, up from $144.68 the week before and increased 13.6 percent from two years ago. RevPAR was $101.44 for the week, rose from $91.45 the week before and up 9.5 percent from the same period two years ago.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE improved in the first week of October due to school breaks and extended holiday weekend, but the performance was mixed when compared to 2019, according to STR. Hotel performance during weekdays declined due to Yom Kippur as expected. Post-Hurricane Ian demand in Florida also boosted the performance. Occupancy was 68.2 percent for the week ending Oct. 8, up from 66.4 percent the week before and decreased 3.5 percent from 2019. ADR was $153.79 during the week, increased from $149.71 the week before and up 16.9 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $104.83 in the first week of October, up from $99.36 the week before and increased 12.8 percent from 2019. Orlando reported the highest occupancy increase among STR's top 25 markets, up 1.9 percent to 73.6 percent, over 2019.

THE REVPAR OF U.S. hotels reached an all-time weekly high on a nominal and a pandemic-era high on an inflation-adjusted basis in the third week of June, according to STR. Boosted by the highest weekly demand of 28 million room nights sold since August 2019, occupancy was the highest of the pandemic-era during the week. Occupancy was 71.8 percent for the week ending June 18, up from 70.6 percent the week before and dropped 4.8 percent from 2019. ADR was $155.02 for the week, slightly down from $155.37 the week before and increased 14.9 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $111.29 during the week up from $109.76 the week before and up 9.4 percent from 2019. San Diego saw the only occupancy increase, up 0.5 percent to 86 percent, over 2019 among STR's top 25 markets. According to STR, New York City (86.6 percent), San Diego and Seattle (85 percent) led the major markets in absolute occupancy for the week.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE saw a decline in the last week of September compared to the previous week, as expected, according to CoStar. However, there was an improvement in year-over-year comparisons, particularly in occupancy due to a favorable Rosh Hashanah calendar shift. Occupancy stood at 66.7 percent for the week ending Sept.30, marking a slight decrease from the preceding week's 68.5 percent, and a 0.8 percent year-over-year rise. ADR was $157.89, down from the prior week's $164.97, but showed a 4.6 percent increase compared to the previous year. RevPAR also experienced a drop to $105.31, compared to the previous week's $112.96, yet still represented a 5.4 percent rise from 2022.

U.S. HOTELS ARE likely to report improved RevPAR growth in the second half of the year, following a weak first quarter, according to CBRE. International tourism and other economic factors are expected to provide a boost to performance. A 2 percent increase in RevPAR growth is forecasted for 2024, down from the 3 percent estimated in February. RevPAR is now expected to grow by 3 percent for the remainder of the year, driven by international tourists, holiday travel, and limited supply growth. It is projecting GDP growth of 2.3 percent and average inflation of 3.2 percent in 2024. The performance of the lodging industry is closely tied to the strength of the economy, as there is typically a strong correlation between GDP and RevPAR growth, CBRE said in a statement.