Hawaii’s tourism industry set a new single-month room revenue record in January, earning $328 million and surpassing the previous single-month revenue record of $313 million set in July 2012.
At the same time, statewide average daily room rates made an impressive 11.3 percent jump to $231.02, another new record for the month of January, according to figures compiled by Smith Travel Research and Hospitality Advisors.
On Oahu, per person daily spending increased by 3 percent and room rates reached a new all-time monthly high of $209.06, up 15 percent over January 2012. Arrivals saw an uptick of 4.3 percent, although the length of visitor stays declined slightly.
Maui enjoyed a strong start to the year as hotel occupancy rose 1.2 percent and average daily room rates reached $289.98, a new January high. The island benefitted from a 6.5 percent increase in visitor arrivals, including a 9 percent jump in travelers from the U.S. West.
Kauai welcomed 10.6 percent more visitors than in January 2012, and its room rates rose 5.3 percent to a new January record of $221.06. Its numbers were impacted by the increase in airline flights to Kauai from Los Angeles, Oakland, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle.
Hawaii Island kicked off 2013 on a positive note as its hotel occupancy grew 8 percentage points from one year ago, aided by a 7.2 percent increase in visitor arrivals. The island’s January room rates increased 10.3 percent to $308.09.