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Hawaii hotel industry posts gains despite quake

  • Originally published May 4, 2011 at 11:37 a.m., updated May 4, 2011 at 2:53 p.m.

HONOLULU (AP) - Hawaii's hotel occupancy and revenue showed gains in March despite a substantial loss in Japanese visitors, according to a tourism industry consultant's report released Wednesday.

Hospitality Advisors LLC reported the percentage of Hawaii hotel rooms occupied by guests rose to an average of 75.2 percent in March, up 4.8 percentage points from the same month last year. Room revenue totaled $745.8 million in first three months of the year, an 18.7 percent increase from the same period a year ago.

After the March 11 earthquake, arrivals from Japan fell by 17.9 percent for the month. However, the overall market improved because of strong gains from the U.S. mainland and Canada, the report said.

Oahu's Waikiki, a primary destination for Japanese visitors, saw a dramatic drop after the earthquake, but the island managed to achieve the highest occupancy statewide in March at 79.2 percent, an increase of 3.4 percentage points from last year.

"Given the close cultural ties between Hawaii and Japan, the impacts throughout the state are both emotional as well as economic," Joseph Toy, president of Hospitality Advisors, said in a statement. "Over 1.2 million Japanese visitors came to Hawaii last year, representing 18 percent of total arrivals, and Hawaii's bond with Japan is very strong."