Average daily hotel rates in April increased year over year in three of the four global regions while hotel performance in the Asia/Pacific region "is slowing," according to STR Global.
In the Americas, April ADR increased by 3.6 percent year over year to $116.68, and occupancy increased 3 percent to 65.4 percent. The region's largest ADR increases were in Miami (up 13.6 percent to $206.83) and San Juan, Puerto Rico (up 13 percent to $211.39); the largest decrease was in Rio de Janeiro (down 10.1 percent to $208.22).
April ADR in Europe was up both in terms of the U.S. dollar (up 6.9 percent to $141.46) and the euro (up 1 percent to €102.19). Occupancy increased 1.8 percent to 68.3 percent. Performance across the region, however, was mixed, with generally positive results in Northern and Southern Europe and negative performance in Western and Eastern Europe, which particularly has been hit by political unrest, according to STR managing director Elizabeth Winkle. Several markets had double-digit-percentage ADR growth, measured in euros, in April: Tallinn, Estonia (up 19.5 percent to €79.83); Tel Aviv (up 17.7 percent to €211.42); Edinburgh (up 10.7 percent to €88.84); and Manchester, England (up 10.4 percent to €82.38).
In the Asia/Pacific region, April ADR declined 2.7 percent year over year to $118.44, and occupancy increased 1.2 percent to 68.8 percent. Hotel performance particularly slowed in India, due in part to the general elections, and Thailand, due to political unrest, Winkle said. The region's largest ADR increases, measured in U.S. dollars, in April were in Osaka (up 13.2 percent to $129.35) and Seoul (up 10.1 percent to $196.27). The largest decline was in Delhi (down 18.6 percent to $98.24).
Both ADR and occupancy increased year over year in the Middle East and Africa region during April. ADR was up 7.2 percent to $178.93, and occupancy increased 2 percent to 67 percent. Winkle said hotel investors are showing "a lot of interest and optimism" in the Middle East—a region with a robust pipeline that is poised to generate 40 percent room growth—especially in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The region's largest ADR increases for April were in Muscat, Oman (up 14 percent to $270.73); Dubai (up 10.6 percent to $283.65); and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (up 10.4 percent to $248.88). The region's largest ADR decline was in Sandton, South Africa (down 10.8 percent to $105.63).