Florida recently reported tourism was up 7 percent in the second quarter compared to a year ago and now California reports joining the Sunshine State in improved visitor results.
Two years ago, California was in the “roughest shape since the Great Depression of the 1930s,” reports the LA Times. Many owners were facing foreclosure. Leisure travelers had but back on hotel says.
But the hotel industry began to improve in March, hoteliers say.
Revenue per available hotel room, a standard industry measure, has shown consistent improvement for the past 18 months, according to new data from TravelClick North American Hospitality Review on hotel bookings.
The financial turnaround for hotel owners has been more a result of filling rooms than raising room prices, though, analysts said.
California hotels have been offering deals such as three nights for the price of one that have become common in the industry. Making available discounted rooms sold to travel websites are also more limited than in past times.
By David Wilkening
