Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

STR: March ends with severe drops in occupancy, ADR and RevPAR

Such declines part of the ‘new normal’ until the COVID-19 pandemic passes

THE FINAL FULL week of March ushered in severe declines in occupancy, ADR and RevPAR for U.S. hotels, according to STR. Such steep drops may be part of the “new normal” created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the week of March 22 to 28, occupancy dropped 67.5 percent to 22.6 percent, ADR went down 39.4 percent to $79.92 and RevPAR declined 80.3 percent to $18.05.


“Year-over-year declines of this magnitude will unfortunately be the ‘new normal’ until the number of new COVID-19 cases slows significantly,” said Jan Freitag, STR’s senior vice president of lodging insights. “Occupancy continues to fall to unprecedented lows, with more than 75 percent of rooms empty around the nation last week. As projected in our U.S. forecast revision, 2020 will be the worst year on record for occupancy. We do, however, expect the industry to begin to recover once the economy reignites and travel resumes.”

The declines were steeper when focused on just the total amounts for the nation’s top 25 markets, where occupancy dropped 74.5 percent to 19.6 percent, ADR declined 43.9 percent to $89.71 and RevPAR was down 85.7 percent to $17.60

New Orleans saw the steepest decline in RevPAR, falling 92.8 percent to $10.27, due primarily to the second-largest decreases in occupancy, down 84.9 percent to 12.7 percent, and ADR, down 52.3 percent to $80.74.

Occupancy fell furthest in Oahu Island, Hawaii, plummeting 86.4 percent to 10.5 percent, while Miami/Hialeah, Florida, posted the largest decline in ADR, falling 57.9 percent to $116.64.

Occupancy in New York was down 81.8 percent to 15.2 percent and down 76.6 percent to 18.5 percent in Seattle.

For the week ending March 21, 11 million room nights were sold in the U.S., less than half the 23 million sold during the prior week, according to STR’s “COVID-19 webinar summary: 5 key points on U.S. & Canada (26 March).” Luxury and upper upscale hotels were most effected by cancellations of meeting and group business, while the economy segment saw the lowest RevPAR decline, 47.7 percent for the same week.

“As per location, it hasn’t been a surprise that urban and resort hotels have posted the steepest RevPAR declines,” the webinar summary said. “However, interstate properties have seen less RevPAR impact due to transportation companies still working. The same happened to the hotels located in small towns, which are isolated from severe demand declines. However, the absolute RevPAR level in those areas is already fairly small.”

More for you

Marriott Outdoor Collection

Marriott unveils 'Outdoor Collection'

Summary:

  • Marriott launches Outdoor Collection and Bonvoy Outdoors platform.
  • First two brands are Postcard Cabins and Trailborn Hotels.
  • Platform features 450+ hotels, 50,000 homes and activities.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL RECENTLY launched the brand “Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy” and introduced “Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors,” a digital platform that lets travelers plan trips by destination or activity. The first two brands in the Outdoor Collection are Postcard Cabins and Trailborn Hotels.

Keep ReadingShow less
Peachtree adds six hotels to its third-party management platform
Photo credit: Peachtree Group

Peachtree picked to manage six hotels

Summary:

  • Peachtree adds six hotels to third-party platform.
  • Five are owned by La Posada Group, one by Decatur Properties.
  • Third-party portfolio totals 42 hotels.

PEACHTREE GROUP’S HOSPITALITY management division added six hotels to its third-party management platform. Five are owned by La Posada Group LLC and one by Decatur Properties Holdings.

Keep ReadingShow less
AHLA Foundation scholarships

AHLA Foundation awards $710K in scholarships

Summary:

  • AHLA Foundation distributed $710,000 in scholarships to 246 students.
  • Nearly 90 percent of recipients come from underrepresented communities.
  • The foundation funds students pursuing education and careers in the lodging sector.

AHLA FOUNDATION DISTRIBUTED $710,000 in academic scholarships to 246 students at 64 schools nationwide for the 2025–2026 academic year. Nearly 90 percent of recipients are from underrepresented communities, reflecting the foundation’s focus on expanding access to hospitality careers.

Keep ReadingShow less
U.S. government shutdown
Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Congressional deadlock shutters government

Summary:

  • The U.S. government shut down at midnight after Congress failed to agree on funding.
  • About 750,000 federal employees will be furloughed daily, costing $400 million.
  • Key immigration and labor programs are halted.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT shut down at midnight after Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on funding. Disputes over healthcare subsidies and spending priorities left both sides unwilling to accept responsibility.

Keep ReadingShow less
WTTC travel report

WTTC: U.S. tops travel sector with $2.6T GDP

Summary:

  • The U.S. led global travel and tourism in 2024 with $2.6 trillion in GDP, WTTC reported.
  • India retained ninth place with $249.3 billion in GDP.
  • The sector supported 357 million jobs in 2024, rising to 371 million in 2025.

THE U.S. LED global travel and tourism in 2024, contributing $2.6 trillion to GDP, mainly from domestic demand, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Europe accounted for five of the top 10 destinations, while India ranked 9th.

Keep ReadingShow less