STR: August room rates rose at South Florida hotels

South Florida hotel occupancy rates were lower in August than a year earlier, but August room rates rose from last year’s levels, according to hospitality industry tracker STR Inc.

Miami-Dade County’s hotel occupancy dipped to 75.8 percent in August, versus 78.5 percent a year earlier.

But the average daily room rate at Miami-Dade hotels increased to $146.48 from $110.88 during the same 12-month period.

Broward County’s average August occupancy rate also went down a bit, to 74.2 percent from 74.6 percent last year.

STR also reported an average August occupancy rate of 63.8 percent in Palm Beach County, slightly lower than 65.7 percent last year.

But in the two counties north of Miami-Dade, average daily room rates increased, year over year, in August. The average August room rates rose in Broward to $103.20 from $99.62 last year and in Palm Beach County to $115.10 from $110.88 last year.

Last year, unlike this year, the Labor Day weekend in early September included part of the month of August, which may be why this year’s August occupancy rates were a bit lower in South Florida. [Sun-Sentinel] — Mike Seemuth