Ed Brock is an award-winning journalist who has worked for various U.S. newspapers and magazines, including with American City & County magazine, a national publication based in Atlanta focused on city and county government issues. He is currently senior editor at Asian Hospitality magazine, the top U.S. publication for Asian American hoteliers. Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Ed began his career in journalism in the early 1990s as a reporter for a chain of weekly newspapers in Baldwin County, Alabama. After a stint teaching English in Japan, Ed returned to the U.S. and moved to the Atlanta area where he returned to journalism, coming to work at Asian Hospitality in 2016.
ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER step toward recovery for U.S. hotels during the week ending June 13, according to STR. Occupancy finally rose above 40 percent for the first time in weeks but the numbers were still below last year.
Occupancy for the second week of June was 41.7 percent, down 43.4 percent from last year. ADR fell 33.9 percent to $89.09 and RevPAR was down 62.6 percent to $37.15.
“Powered by the slow and steady rise in weekly demand, the industry clawed its way above 40 percent occupancy,” said Alison Hoyt, STR’s senior director for consulting and analytics. “That was still down substantially from the comparable week last year, which was 73.6 percent, but an obvious improvement from the country’s low point in mid-April. As we have noted, the drive-to destinations with access to beaches, mountains and parks continue to lead the early leisure recovery. With more consistent demand, we’re beginning to see more pricing confidence in those areas as well.”
For the top 25 markets, occupancy was 37.2 percent, slightly lower than the national average, but ADR was slightly higher at $91.65.
Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia, was the only major market to go above 50 percent occupancy, up to 53.3 percent. Phoenix was second highest at 47.6 percent, followed by New York at 45.7 percent and Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida, area at 44.7 percent.
Oahu Island, Hawaii, again was lowest at 10.8 percent, followed by Boston at 25.7 percent and Orlando, Florida, at 26.4 percent. Seattle, Washington, occupancy was 31.5 percent, up slightly from 29.5 percent the week prior.
Sonesta launched Americas Best Value Studios, an extended-stay version of ABVI.
The model targets owners seeking limited front desk and housekeeping.
The brand meets demand for longer-term, value-focused stays.
SONESTA INTERNATIONAL HOTELS Corp. launched Americas Best Value Studios by Sonesta, an extended-stay version of its franchised brand, Americas Best Value Inn. The model targets owners seeking limited front desk and housekeeping, optional fitness center and lobby market along with standard brand requirements.
The brand aims to address the growing demand for longer-term, value-driven accommodations, Sonesta said in a statement.
"Americas Best Value Studios by Sonesta represents a strategic evolution of our trusted Americas Best Value Inn brand," Keith Pierce, Sonesta’s executive vice president and president of franchise development, said. "We are expanding our offerings to directly address the increasing demand within the extended-stay segment, providing a practical solution for travelers seeking longer-term lodging at value. This new brand type allows our local franchised owner-operators to tap into a growing market while maintaining the community-focused experience that Americas Best Value Inn is known for."
ABVI has a majority presence in secondary and tertiary markets, the statement said.
The extended-stay brand’s operational model features a front desk, bi-weekly housekeeping, on-site laundry and pet-friendly accommodations, Sonesta said. Guests can also earn or redeem points through the Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty program.
In August, Sonesta named Stayntouch its preferred property management system after a two-year review of its ability to support the company’s franchise model. The company operates more than 1,100 properties with more than 100,000 rooms across 13 brands on three continents.
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