Lee hotel revenues surge

FORT MYERS — Higher occupancies and room rates drove revenues at Lee County lodgings up 17.7% in August.

Revenue per available room at Lee County lodgings, an important gauge of hotels' financial health that is a function of occupancy and rate, rose 17.7% to $63.20, according to Smith Travel Research data published by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau.

The average occupancy rate in August rose 11.1% to 53.6% compared with August 2013. The average daily rate rose 5.9% to $117.84 over the same period, according to Smith Travel.

The hotel business has recovered solidly, the data shows. The bureau recently reported that the $32 million Lee County has collected in bed taxes during the 2013-2014 fiscal year was the best on record and an increase of 16.7% over the prior year.