Growth in room rates continues to drive Canada hotel industry

June 2024 (percentage change from 2023):

• Occupancy: 74.5 per cent (+0.5 per cent)
• Average daily rate (ADR): CAD231.04 (+3.7 per cent)
• Revenue per available room (RevPAR): CAD172.10 (+4.2 per cent)

“ADR continues to be the main driver of RevPAR improvement in Canada,” said Laura Baxter, CoStar Group’s director of hospitality analytics for Canada.

“The 3.7 per cent increase in room rates exceeded the 2.7 per cent inflation reading in June, helping hoteliers absorb rising costs. Occupancy increased marginally again, with Tuesday and Wednesday nights producing the highest actual levels (80 per cent+), suggesting strong business travel.

“Across classes, only luxury and upper upscale hotels saw occupancy growth, while select-service hotels reported a decline once again. With more mortgages being renewed at much higher interest rates, Canadians are feeling the pinch. The split in the data suggests that consumers with enough disposable income to stay in luxury and upper-upscale hotels continue to do so. Meanwhile, cost-conscious guests who stay in select- and limited-service hotels have tightened their belts to a greater degree.”

Among the provinces and territories, Newfoundland and Labrador recorded the highest occupancy level (82.8 per cent), which was 4.6 per cent below 2023.

Among the major markets, Toronto saw the highest occupancy (84.7 per cent), up 1.5 per cent over June 2023. Despite this increase, ADR declined for the second consecutive month, primarily due to a 5.6 per cent decrease in transient rates.

The lowest occupancy among provinces was reported in Saskatchewan (63.3 per cent), up 0.4 per cent against 2023.

At the market level, the lowest occupancy was reported in Edmonton (+7.5 per cent to 62.2 per cent).