Wailea hotels enjoy high revenues but lag in occupancy | News, Sports, Jobs

Visitors roam the sidewalks of Lahaina last week. Occupancy in Maui County hotels was at 70.5 percent in March, down 1.7 percentage points from last year which saw occupancy in March at 72.2 percent. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

In March, Wailea hotels brought in the most revenue across the state, but also saw some of the lowest occupancy rates in Hawaii, according to a recently released Hawaii’i Hotel Performance Report.

Wailea hotels last month saw revenue per available room at $634.65 with an average daily rate at $1,028.45, which is the highest totals compared to the rest of the state. But occupancy in March was at 61.7 percent, down 4.8 percentage points versus 2022 and also down 28.9 percentage points published compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels when Wailea hotels saw an occupancy rate of 90.6 percent, according to the report by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority.

Last month most other hotel categories across the state saw occupancy rates within the 70 percent range.

Average daily rates at the Wailea hotels in March were up 2.6 percent versus March 2022, when average daily rates were $1,002.73. Rates last month were also up 60.3 percent compared to pre-pandemic 2019 when rates were $ 641.76. Revenue per available room last month was down 4.8 percent as March 2022 saw revenue per available room at $666.72. But last month’s revenue per available room in Wailea was up 9.1 percent compared to 2019, when RevPAR was $581.66.

Statewide revenues were up, with revenue per available room at $295.94, which is up 6.4 percent versus 2022 which saw rates of $278.26 per available room. March revenue per available room statewide was also up 31.9 percent from pre-pandemic 2019, which RevPAR was at $224.39.

Average daily rates statewide were also up in March at $386.74, up 4 percent versus 2022, when rates were $372.04 and up 35.9 percent versus 2019 when the average daily rate was $284.63.

Statewide occupancy was at 76.5 percent in March, up 1.7 percentage points from March 2022 when occupancy was at 74.8 percent. But last month’s statewide occupancy total was down 2.3 percentage points from 2019, which saw an occupancy rate of 78.8 percent.

Maui County again led the state in the highest revenues per available room and average daily rate with the strength of the Wailea luxury hotels.

In March, Maui County hotels had revenue per available room at $454.93, which was down 0.5 percent versus March 2022, which revenue per available room was at $457.32, but last month’s RevPAR was up 36.7 percent versus 2019, when RevPAR was a $332.89.

Average daily rate at Maui County hotels last month was $645.61, up 1.9 percent versus 2022, which saw average daily rates at $633.44 and up 52.1 percent versus 2019, when the average daily rate was $424.51.

Occupancy in Maui County was at 70.5 percent in March, down 1.7 percentage points from last year which saw occupancy in March at 72.2 percent. Last month’s occupancy in the county was also down 8 percentage points versus 2019, when occupancy was at 78.4 percent.

The Lahaina/Kaanapali/Kapalua hotels in March saw RevPAR at $418.11, which is up 0.8 percent versus 2022, which saw revenue per available room at $414.76. March’s RevPAR for the West Maui hotels was up 51.7 percent versus 2019, which saw RevPAR at $275.57.

The West Maui hotels saw average daily rates of $564.95 in March, up 2.3 percent versus 2022, which saw rates of $552.33. March’s average daily rate was also up 59 percent compared to March 2019, when West Maui hotels had an average daily rate of $355.22.

Occupancy in March for the West Maui hotels was at 74 percent, which was down 1.1 percentage points versus March 2022 which saw a 75.1 percent occupancy rate. The West Maui occupancy rate last month was down 3.6 percentage points compared to 2019, which saw an occupancy rate of 77.6 percent.

Last month, Oahu saw a 79.3 occupancy rate, the highest among all counties. Average daily rate was $272.77 and revenue per available room was $216.39.

Hawaii island saw a 76.5 percent occupancy rate in March and an average daily rate of $429.81. Revenue per available room was $328.73.

Last month, Kauai had a 75.8 occupancy rate, average daily room rate at $403.54 and RevPAR at $306.07.

among “competitive sun and sea destinations,” Maui County had the third highest revenue per available room year-to-date at $449.11. French Polynesia was second with RevPAR at $478.17 and the Maldives had the highest RevPAR at $579.72.

Maui County was also third in average daily rates year-to-date in the “sun and sea destinations” category, with an average daily rate of $644.67. Second was French Polynesia with an average daily rate of $678.95 and the highest average daily rate was in the Maldives at $764.95.

* Staff Writer Melissa Tanji can be reached at [email protected].

Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox