Hurricanes put dent in lucrative 2017 for Caribbean hotels

Despite hurricanes Irma and Maria, Caribbean hotel occupancy
only fell 1.2 points in 2017, according to hotel data firm STR. Occupancy was
66.4%, the lowest level in the region since 2012.

Even though the hurricanes wiped out the fourth quarter for
many hotels, the Caribbean’s average daily rate (ADR) increased 1.9% to
$204.64, the highest for any year on record for the region. Revenue per
available room (RevPAR) rose 0.7% to $135.85.

“Even with the roughest hurricane season in years and
several countries missing out on their traditional fourth-quarter business, total-year
performance remained positive for the region,” said Rico Louw, STR’s
client account manager.

March was the top-performing month for occupancy (76.1%),
ADR ($248.90) and RevPAR ($189.48). Due to the impact of hurricanes Irma and
Maria, September was the lowest month of the year for occupancy (46%), ADR
($146.73) and RevPAR ($67.45)

STR’s census database shows more than 250,000 rooms in more
than 1,900 hotels in the Caribbean.