Hotel revenues rise

FORT MYERS — Revenue per available room at Lee County hotels rose 5.9% in April compared with the same month one year ago, boosted by higher room rates.

Revenue per available room is an important financial gauge of the hotel business. It's a function of occupancy and average daily room rate.

Revenue per available room rose to $103.84 in April compared with $98.13 in April 2011. In that same period, occupancy rose 1.6% to 63.6% and the average daily rate rose 4.2% to $163.33, according to data from the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau.

In a survey of property managers, the bureau reported that 45% say reservations are up for May, June and July compared with the same three months last year. That compares with 23% reporting the same optimism in April 2011. Only 13% say reservations are down for the three months ending in July compared with 28% who said the same in April 2011.