PricewaterhouseCoopers predicted that occupancy at U.S. hotels will reach 65.7 percent during 2015, a level not seen since 1981.

In its updated lodging forecast, released Wednesday, PwC cited two sparks for occupancy growth: the expansion of online distribution channels, which help operators fill rooms during off-peak periods, and healthy group and transient demand. PwC predicts the U.S. average daily rate will increase 6.1 percent year over year during 2015 and anticipates similar occupancy (65.8 percent) and rate growth (another 6.1 percent) during 2016, as supply grows 2.2 percent.