Hawaii hotels set a new record for hotel room revenue in July 2012, with revenues increasing 18.2 percent over July 2011 to an all-time high of $310 million, according to Hospitality Advisors.

The new record was supported by a 17.8 percent increase in total visitor expenditures and 7.8 percent growth in total visitor arrivals as reported by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Statewide hotel occupancy reached 81.9 percent, a 5.8 percentage point increase compared to July 2011.  Gains in occupancy were primarily due to increases in visitor arrivals from U.S. West (3.4 percent), Japan (21.5 percent), and other international visitors (30.0 percent), primarily from China and Korea.  These three Asian markets overwhelmingly select traditional hotels over other accommodation choices, including timeshares and individual condo rentals, when compared to the U.S. market.

For the month of July, the average daily room rate and room revenue per available room reached $214.40 and $175.59, respectively.  Both were all-time highs for the month of July.Contributing factors included increases in visitors from high-yield markets such as the honeymoon market (20.2 percent), visitors traveling to Hawai‘i to get married (17.1 percent) and an impressive 167.4 percent increase in the International Meetings/Conventions/Incentive (“MCI”) market. Also of note was a 6.1 percent rise in independent travelers who tend to spend more on hotel rooms than package and group travelers.