Basketball and beach-goers combined to make the week of March 15-21 very busy for local hoteliers.
According to data compiled by Smith Travel Research for Visit Jacksonville, compared to the same period in 2014, hotel occupancy was up by 10.6 percent, with an average of 77.3 percent of the available rooms occupied.
In terms of occupancy, the Beaches led the way at 91 percent, said Patty Jimenez, Visit Jacksonville spokeswoman.
“Some of the beach hotels were sold out and full of spring breakers,” she said.
Arlington lodging facilities were 84 percent occupied, followed by Northside and airport area hotels at 80 percent, Southside and Mandarin at 78 percent and Westside at 76 percent.
The only area that saw a decline in occupancy during tournament week was Downtown.
According to data from urban core hotel operators, 63 percent of rooms were occupied March 19-21 during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament preliminary rounds at Veterans Memorial Arena, a decline of about 7 percent compared to the same week in 2014.
The average daily rate came in at $87.25, almost $11 more than the same week last March. Hotel revenue was up 26.1 percent at $8.5 million, nearly $2 million more than the same period in 2014.
Looking at the first three weeks of March, overall occupancy was 76.4 percent, up by 4.1 percent. Total lodging revenue was calculated at $24.3 million, a 13.6 percent increase and nearly $3 million more than the same period last year.
Jimenez said March likely will be the 16th consecutive month with an increase in business for local hotel operators. April and May also are projected to be busier than the same period last year.
Several large convention groups are booked in Jacksonville in April and the regional rounds of the NCAA Division I Track and Field Outdoor Championships are scheduled May 28-30 at the University of North Florida, Jimenez said.
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