Although average occupancy at Hawaii hotels for mid-September is basically flat compared with the same period last year, travelers are paying almost 9 percent year-over-year, according to the latest weekly report issued by Honolulu-based Hospitality Advisors. Average room rate statewide for the week of September 10-17 was $170.35, an increase of 8.9 percent. The island leading the way in climbing average rate was the Big Island, where hotels posted a 17.4 percent average increase to $167.18, and did so on a larger occupancy base; this grew by 6.2 percent to 65.1 percent. Garnering the highest average nightly rate were hotels on Maui, at $205.20, a jump of 10.7 percent. Meantime, statewide occupancy of 78.7 percent puts Hawaii well ahead of the national average for the week of 68.7 percent, as well as Orlando's 50 percent and San Diego's 74 percent.
