OCMetro

updated 09/17/2012 10:05AM July is flat for Orange County's hotels The local hospitality industry saw mixed numbers in July, with the overall average coming out largely flat compared to 2011, according to the most recent Trends report from Colliers PKF Consulting. With relatively tepid occupancy numbers spread across the region, and heavier declines than gains, a very slight overall drop in total occupancy made for a neutral month.

Hotels and resorts clearly anticipated a burst of business over the month, and set prices accordingly; room rates increased across all seven statistical regions in Orange County over 2011’s July rates, averaging 6.1 percent. Huntington Beach saw the largest rate increase at 9.2 percent; the O.C. airport area saw the most modest, rising 3.1 percent. However, business failed to keep pace with those anticipations.

The most popular destination for the month, Anaheim, showed 91.42 percent occupancy rate of available hotel rooms during the month. Still, this was only a 1.1 percent increase in room occupancy over 2011.

Room occupancy declines were most pronounced in beach regions; Newport Beach marked occupancy at 82.89 percent (declining 5.9 percent), and Huntington Beach showed an occupancy rate at 85.59 percent (down 4.9 percent). These areas marked the highest rate increases: Huntington Beach at 9.2 percent and Newport Beach, 8.2 percent.

July did see an increase across the board in revenue per available room over 2011. On average, revenues increased by 5.3 percent over 2011, amounting to $148.78 per room.

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