Good July for South Florida hotels

Hotel occupancy rose for the month of July, with the biggest gain
in Palm Beach County, according to data from Smith Travel Research. The
occupancy rate rose to 62.1 percent in Palm Beach County from 53.2
percent in the same period in 2009, and jumped to 63.7 percent from
59.9 percent in Broward County, and rose to 67.9 percent from 64.1
percent in Miami-Dade County. Miami-Dade County had the highest average
room rate as well, at $118.33, up from $116.25 in July 2009. Broward
and Palm Beach counties saw a decline in rates, however. The numbers
follow a period of uncertainty about the potential implications of oil
reaching South Florida’s shores. [SFBJ]