Average daily U.S. hotel rates in 2011 will increase 5.1 percent year over year, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers forecast

, triggered by increasing demand and slow supply growth. The firm projects occupancy will reach 59 percent this year, up from 57.6 percent in 2010, and revenue per available room to increase by 7.8 percent. Meanwhile, average U.S. hotel rates fell 0.1 percent in 2010 from 2009 levels as occupancy rose 5.9 percent and RevPAR grew 5.5 percent, according to STR.