South Florida hotel occupancy rates mixed, room rates fall

Hotel occupancy in Palm Beach County rose to 61.2 percent last week, up from 55.8 percent in the same period in 2009, according to Smith Travel Research. In Broward County, occupancy was also up, rising to 62.7 percent from 61 percent. Miami-Dade County’s hotels were a bit emptier, however, as occupancy dropped to 68.4 from 69.3 percent in 2009. Nationally, hotel occupancy rose to 61.6 percent. Room rates in South Florida fell across the board, with Palm Beach County’s rates suffering the deepest decline, down 8.1 percent to $108.91. Miami-Dade County hotels still had the region’s highest rates, at $130.09. [SFBJ]