South Florida hotels largely avoided vacancies and increased room rates in 2013.
The latest report from Smith Travel Research shows Broward County’s average hotel occupancy reached 74.7 percent last year, up from 72.4 percent in 2012, the Sun-Sentinel reported. The occupancy increase came despite a year-over-year decline from 74.3 percent occupancy in December 2012 to 71 percent last month. Broward’s average room rates jumped from $114.59 in 2012 to $119.33 last year.
Palm Beach County hotel occupancy surged from 67.4 percent in 2012 to 71.6 percent last year. Year-over-year occupancy rose from 66.5 percent in December 2012 to 71 percent last month. Average room rates increased from $140.92 in 2012 to $145.84 in 2013.
Broward tourism officials expect to break last year’s record of 13.1 million visitors in 2014, while Palm Beach County projects more than six million visitors. [Sun-Sentinel] — Eric Kalis