Study: U.S. Hotels Nearly Empty

Sat, Apr 18, 2020

The first week of April saw hotel vacancies at almost 80 percent across the country, and the rest of the month could be worse, according to a new report from hospitality research firm STR. A separate study says the Covid-19 pandemic is likely to slash industry jobs by more than 40 percent.

Study: U.S. Hotels Nearly Empty

April unfolded with almost 80 percent of hotel rooms in the U.S. vacant, and it could get worse, according to a new report.

Data from hospitality analytics company STR indicate only 21.6 percent of rooms nationwide were occupied between March 29 and April 4, a decline of 68 percent from the same week last year.

The percentage was slightly down in the week that followed, which means the numbers could continue to drop, according to STR.

The Intercontinental Hotels Group, which owns the Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotel brands, recently told CNN that demand for rooms is the lowest it’s ever seen.

The dearth of guests is impacting employees in the industry, too. An Oxford Economics study predicts that 44 percent of hotel workers in every state will lose their jobs as a result of the pandemic.

Mitch Patel, whose Vision Hospitality Group owns or manages hotels under a variety of Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Holiday Inn brands, told CNN earlier this month that he expects many hotels won’t survive.

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