Current occupancy levels?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: St. Louis, MO
Programs: Hyatt. Marriott. AA. National. Avis.
Posts: 155
Current occupancy levels?
I just started traveling again, and the two hotels I've been to thus far have been very minimally occupied. Stayed at the Marriott Kansas City Plaza about a week ago and the front desk said they only had 27% occupancy during my stay! Yikes...
Curious to know what others' experiences have been, and if hotels in other regions are more/less occupied. My travel is primarily in the midwestern US, so I probably won't see much variation.
Curious to know what others' experiences have been, and if hotels in other regions are more/less occupied. My travel is primarily in the midwestern US, so I probably won't see much variation.
#2
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 511
I just started traveling again, and the two hotels I've been to thus far have been very minimally occupied. Stayed at the Marriott Kansas City Plaza about a week ago and the front desk said they only had 27% occupancy during my stay! Yikes...
Curious to know what others' experiences have been, and if hotels in other regions are more/less occupied. My travel is primarily in the midwestern US, so I probably won't see much variation.
Curious to know what others' experiences have been, and if hotels in other regions are more/less occupied. My travel is primarily in the midwestern US, so I probably won't see much variation.
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Recent piece in the NY Times suggests that luxury properties in desireable locations are running at capacity through October. Other places not so much. There is pent up leisure travel demand for places driveable from larger urban areas and people are ready to spend. Good for properties because they can increase their staffing to allow for thorough room-cleaning and then charge accordingly.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
The Courtyard at the Virginia Beach oceanfront was running at like 85% midweek last month. I've gathered that this was/is a common state of affairs at least in Virginia Beach (it was a pretty good use of my 35k point certificate). But beachfront hotels probably have an edge for the moment if only because many of the alternative vacation options have been either closed or restricted in operation.
#5
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LCY
Programs: SQ Krisflyer, QR Privilege Club, MB LT Plt (1K+ nights thx MB)
Posts: 1,030
If we consider the relationship between room rates and occupancy rates my guess would be that the real test of how low rates can go is when more supply comes back to the market, This will be the real test for many hotel companies if their business model still works.
#6
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Bounding Around The Good 'Ole USA In My Chevrolet
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 377
It sounds like lots of owners are pushing for heads in beds. But as the industry as a whole leaned over the past two recessions is that lowering rate does not drive occupancy. You may see a very short term spike but it is not even a short term strategy.
#7
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LCY
Programs: SQ Krisflyer, QR Privilege Club, MB LT Plt (1K+ nights thx MB)
Posts: 1,030
To paraphrase the 1800s philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche when you stare into insolvency, insolvency stares back at you
#8
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: DFW - North Texas
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Marriot Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum/2022 Titanium
Posts: 960
Yes, stayed this weekend at the REN in Plano, TX. Occupancy was 32%. One of three elevators running and only 4 floors of 12 open. I spoke with a guest who turned out to be a Marriott employee from a hotel down the road. She said 15 employees remained of the 150 in her "team". Most were furloughed. Tough, tough times for this industry!
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,227
Marriott Coronado Resort was booked full the last weekend in June. Marriott Newport Bayview was also pretty crowded right before that - I'd guess in the 75% range.
By contrast, the Phoenician was dead empty 10 days ago.
By contrast, the Phoenician was dead empty 10 days ago.
#10
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Programs: MR LT Titanium, IHG Plat.,UA Premier Silver, & PA/OH Turnpike Million Miler
Posts: 2,269
I didn't ask about the occupancy levels; however, the CY Lake Placid, NY appeared to be %50+ occupied during the week based on the number of cars in the lot. As the weekend approached, when we were checking out, it appear to jump upto %75+ occupancy. Front Desk staff did indicate they have been busy since NY opened hotels to everyone about 5 weeks ago (previously was only essential workers).
Stayed at the FI Queensbury, NY prior to the CY and it appeared to be approx. 1/3 full during the week and 2/3's full over the weekend. Not a Marriott, but originally was going to stay at the HI Lake George Resort and they appeared to be near %100 full. Due to some issues with the HI, wound up staying at the FI Queensbury, NY instead.
CY Lake Placid looked like a mix of business and leisure travelers. FI Queensbury looked like almost all leisure travelers. FI Olean, NY was less than %20 occup
I haven't had any business travel since late February nor do I expect to have any the remainder of the year. All business travel is currently prohibited by my employer with very few exceptions and I expect that restriction to remain in place for the foreseeable future. Depending on the Covid-19 case levels, I may have a couple of more leisure trips to visit family before the end of the year.
--Jon
Stayed at the FI Queensbury, NY prior to the CY and it appeared to be approx. 1/3 full during the week and 2/3's full over the weekend. Not a Marriott, but originally was going to stay at the HI Lake George Resort and they appeared to be near %100 full. Due to some issues with the HI, wound up staying at the FI Queensbury, NY instead.
CY Lake Placid looked like a mix of business and leisure travelers. FI Queensbury looked like almost all leisure travelers. FI Olean, NY was less than %20 occup
I haven't had any business travel since late February nor do I expect to have any the remainder of the year. All business travel is currently prohibited by my employer with very few exceptions and I expect that restriction to remain in place for the foreseeable future. Depending on the Covid-19 case levels, I may have a couple of more leisure trips to visit family before the end of the year.
--Jon
#11
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: Virtuoso Luxury Travel Agent; Bonvoy Titanium Elite; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 659
I just stayed at the Penha Longa resort in Portugal (Ritz Carlton). It's very popular during the Summer, esp for golfers, and usually they are on full occupancy during July. We stayed last week and I spoke a few times to staff, and they were around 10-15% occupancy. Huge blow to their business.
#12
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: BNA (Nashville)
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 6,205
3 standard road trip stays in July
Sheraton Four Points in Charleston WV on a Friday was empty enough to get a free parking slot, but a girls softball tourney was staying there, so it was not quiet.
Courtyard Wilkes Barre appeared to be about 50% occupied based on the cars. Apparently the nearby Mohegan Sun Casino had just opened.
Courtyard Elmira NY last week was over 50% judging from the cars in the parking lot. Both the PA and the NY hotels required masks in hotel common areas and elevators. Bistro was open, but to go orders only. Four points gave a breakfast bag and free coffee. Courtyard, of course, charged for coffee.
Edit to add: All 3 were points stays. All 3 were 15,000 points ea. I felt they were good deals.
Sheraton Four Points in Charleston WV on a Friday was empty enough to get a free parking slot, but a girls softball tourney was staying there, so it was not quiet.
Courtyard Wilkes Barre appeared to be about 50% occupied based on the cars. Apparently the nearby Mohegan Sun Casino had just opened.
Courtyard Elmira NY last week was over 50% judging from the cars in the parking lot. Both the PA and the NY hotels required masks in hotel common areas and elevators. Bistro was open, but to go orders only. Four points gave a breakfast bag and free coffee. Courtyard, of course, charged for coffee.
Edit to add: All 3 were points stays. All 3 were 15,000 points ea. I felt they were good deals.
#13
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, National EE, AS MVP Gold 75K, AC 75K
Posts: 993
I've been on 3 week-long work trips since pandemic started in US and Canada and while most of them have low occupancy, they closed most of the floors. So while I was expecting a nice quiet evening in my room, I'm always placed next to an occupied room and can hear my neighbors talking.
#14
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Globalist, M life Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 918
I have some insight. I am currently staying outside Sacramento in a hotel whose staff calls the neighboring hotels to find out occupancy / rates.
At the bottom this hotel was down to 13% occupancy. Across the street there are 4 hotels owned by the same guy. He closed 3 of them (one is a Springhill Suites that was down to 2 guests) and moved them all into the Residence Inn which kept the RI mostly full. At this point the hotel I am in is running about 40%, and all 4 of the hotels across the street have reopened.
I have mentioned to the staff how much the occupancy has improved, and they are unimpressed. They point out this is the time of year when the hotel should be sold out.
Rates? At the bottom rates in the area were really low, some were under $70. The rates are still lower than normal, but not by much. There are no hotels still in the sub $70 range. I've been checking the websites to try and find cheap hotels anywhere in California. There are low rates, but there just aren't any rates wildly below normal. If anyone remembers, in 2009 the San Francisco Hyatt was famously available on Priceline for $50. This time around there are no rates of that level.
I have some free night certs I've been trying to use around Lake Tahoe. Availability during the week, but nothing on weekends, even many weeks out.
At the bottom this hotel was down to 13% occupancy. Across the street there are 4 hotels owned by the same guy. He closed 3 of them (one is a Springhill Suites that was down to 2 guests) and moved them all into the Residence Inn which kept the RI mostly full. At this point the hotel I am in is running about 40%, and all 4 of the hotels across the street have reopened.
I have mentioned to the staff how much the occupancy has improved, and they are unimpressed. They point out this is the time of year when the hotel should be sold out.
Rates? At the bottom rates in the area were really low, some were under $70. The rates are still lower than normal, but not by much. There are no hotels still in the sub $70 range. I've been checking the websites to try and find cheap hotels anywhere in California. There are low rates, but there just aren't any rates wildly below normal. If anyone remembers, in 2009 the San Francisco Hyatt was famously available on Priceline for $50. This time around there are no rates of that level.
I have some free night certs I've been trying to use around Lake Tahoe. Availability during the week, but nothing on weekends, even many weeks out.
#15
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534