Colorado Hotel Occupancy Declines, Rocky Mountain Lodging Report

Denver Business Journal -- Hotel occupancy in Colorado dropped in September, yet average room rates increased compared to the same month last year, according to the Rocky Mountain Lodging report released Monday.

Roughly 73 percent of metro area hotel rooms were occupied in September, down from 75.5 percent for the same month in 2007. Room rates were $125.93, up $9 from September 2007. Downtown room rates rang in at $174.91 a night — the most expensive in the metro area.

Metro area revenue per available room (RevPAR), which is what economists use to determine the health of the market, was $92.01 in September, up from $88.40 during the same month a year ago.

Statewide, 65 percent of Colorado’s hotel rooms were occupied, down from 70.5 percent in September 2007.

Average room rates throughout Colorado jumped $6 to $124.16.

Estes Park’s room rates were the most expensive in the state at $151.49.

The report was released by the Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association.