Hurricanes put dent in lucrative 2017 for Caribbean hotels: Travel …

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.