According to data compiled by STR Global, hotels in the Asia Pacific region experienced increases in all three key performance metrics for January 2010 when reported in U.S. dollar. In year-on-year measurements, the Asia Pacific region’s OR rose 13.9% to 61%, ADR increased 5.6% to US$130.75, and RevPAR jumped 20.3% to US$79.81.

“Hotels in the Asia Pacific region lead the world in terms of occupancy recovery with double-digit growth in three out of the four sub regions and Australia and Oceania improving 3.2%,” said Elizabeth Randall, managing director of STR Global. “The region achieved the highest occupancy of 61%, some 6.2 percentage points more than the Middle East / Africa region, 12.8 percentage points more than Europe and 15.5 percentage points more than the Americas. Of the 16 countries we report on our Asia Pacific Hotel Review, only French Polynesia, Japan, the Maldives and South Korea reported occupancy declines compared with January 2009.”

Highlights from Key Market Performers in January 2010

- Beijing, China, reported the largest occupancy increase among the markets, rising 41.9% to 51%, followed by Shanghai, China (+41.4% to 49.1%), and Phuket, Thailand (+32.7% to 86%).

- Bali, Indonesia, posted the largest occupancy decrease, falling 7.6% to 68.7%, followed by Seoul, South Korea, with a 7.1% decrease to 69.5%.

- Three markets experienced ADR increases of more than 30%: Brisbane, Australia (+35.9% to US$127.91); Melbourne, Australia (+33.3% to US$166.61); and Sydney, Australia (+31.8% to US$150.48).

- Mumbai, India, ended the month with the largest ADR decrease, falling 8% to US$192.79.

- Beijing experienced the largest RevPAR increase, jumping 48.4% to US$46.54. Sydney (+41.6% to US$116.76) and Shanghai (+41.1% to US$51.78) also reported large RevPAR increases.

- Two markets posted RevPAR decreases: Osaka, Japan (-7.4% to US$79.96), and Bali (-4.2% to US$86.32).