Maui, Kauai and Oahu Drove Hawaii’s Hotel Performance in July 2018

For Immediate Release: August 29, 2018
HTA Release (18-50)

2018-08-29 HTA July 2018 Hawaii Hotels Performance.pdf

HONOLULU – Hawaii hotels statewide reported a 3.6 percent increase in revenue per available room (RevPAR) to $248 in July 2018, according to the Hawaii Hotel Performance Report released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA).

This growth was driven by a 4.9 percent increase in average daily rate (ADR) to $296, which offset a slight decline in occupancy (-1.0 percentage points to 83.8%) (Figure 1). Statewide, all classes of hotel properties reported higher RevPAR and ADR in July, along with declines in occupancy, compared to a year ago.

HTA’s Tourism Research Division issued the report’s findings utilizing data compiled by STR, Inc., which conducts the largest and most comprehensive survey of hotel properties in the Hawaiian Islands.

Jennifer Chun, HTA tourism research director, noted, “The state’s positive hotel results in July were driven by the performance of properties in Maui County, Kauai and Oahu. This offset the declines reported by hotels on the island of Hawaii, as these properties continued to be negatively impacted by the Kilauea volcano eruption.

“July is one of Hawaii’s peak travel months and while statewide hotel occupancy was very good at 83.8 percent, it was a little disappointing to see a decline compared to a year ago.

“Maui County Luxury Class hotels, which includes luxury properties in Wailea and on Lanai, did particularly well during July. They collectively led the state in RevPAR at $564 and ADR at $675.”

Of the four island counties, Maui County hotels reported the highest RevPAR at $328 (+10.1%) in July, fueled by strong ADR growth to $404 (+8.8%) and a small increase in occupancy to 81.2 percent (+0.9 percentage points).

Kauai hotels also reported impressive growth in July, earning a 9.6 percent increase in RevPAR to $248, which was boosted by ADR of $315 (+8.1%) and occupancy of 78.8 percent (+1.0 percentage points).

Oahu hotels reported a small rise in RevPAR to $229 (+1.0%) in July due to an increase in ADR to $260 (+2.5%), which help offset a 1.3 percentage point decrease in occupancy to 87.9 percent. 

Hotels on the island of Hawaii were impacted by the continued eruption of Kilauea volcano during July, with RevPAR declining 6.0 percent to $183. ADR was unchanged from last July ($247, +0.0%) and occupancy fell by 4.7 percentage points to 74.2 percent. 

Of the state’s resort regions, Wailea properties led in RevPAR to $563 (+11.7%), ADR to $621 (+8.4%), and occupancy of 90.6 percent (+2.7 percentage points) in July year-over-year. 

The Lahaina/Kaanapali/Kapalua region also reported growth in July for RevPAR (+8.9% to $284) and ADR (+8.5% to $346), with flat occupancy (82.1%, +0.4 percentage points).