Lodging consulting firm HVS on Tuesday issued a forecast
predicting year-over-year rate growth through 2015 for the U.S. hotel industry
along with "stabilized levels of operation" by 2014.
While HVS projects that 2010 will end with overall rates
down 1 percent from 2009 levels, it forecasts them to be up by 4.5 percent in
2011. In the three following years, HVS said rates would grow by at least 5
percent each year, which means they would top 2008 levels by 2013.
HVS also projects steady occupancy growth during those years
before stabilizing at 62.7 percent in 2014. The firm said business travel and
group travel would strengthen in 2012 and 2013, as employment levels increase.