In another sign that appears to show April was the low point of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on U.S. hotels, three of the industry's key indicators in May each increased from last month's metrics, despite still showing sharp year-over-year declines, according to STR.
The May year-over-year occupancy level for U.S. hotels declined 51.7 percent to 33.1 percent. Average daily rate was down 39.9 percent to $79.57. Revenue per available room dropped 71 percent to $26.35.
Performance for the top 25 markets was even worse than for the industry as a whole. Occupancy compared to May 2019 declined 58.1 percent to 31.7 percent. Average daily rate dropped 48.2 percent to $83.88. RevPAR was down 78.3 percent to $26.60.
The company's most recent weekly performance report, however, with data through June 13, showed overall U.S. occupancy for that week at 41.7 percent, indicating a slow but steady increase in demand.
Still, last month's figures were the lowest for any May on record in the U.S., and the RevPAR decline was 3.5 times greater than the previous downturn in May 2009, when it was down 20.4 percent, according to STR.
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