Wailea hotel prices spur state-high room revenue and daily rates

Maui County hotels see dip in occupancy in January

Due in part to sky-high prices in Wailea, Maui County hotels in January led the state in room revenue and average daily rates but saw a dip in occupancy after a steady increase in recent months, according to a recent Hawaii Tourism Authority report.

Occupancy, revenue and daily rates are still down from January 2020, one of the last months before the COVID-19 pandemic set in and travel ground to a halt.

Maui County hotels in January collected $99 in revenue per available room, down 73.2 percent from January 2020. Average daily rates, however, hit $451, barely 6 percent down from the same time last year. Occupancy was at 21.9 percent in January, down 55.1 percentage points from the same time last year, according to the report.

Maui’s high revenue and average daily rates were due in part to the luxury resort region of Wailea, which had room revenue of $153 (down 75 percent from the same time last year), an average daily rate of $807 (up 12.5 percent) and occupancy at 18.9 percent (down 66.3 percent). Wailea was the only area in the state with average daily rates higher than at the same time last year prior to the pandemic, aside from the Maui County luxury category that averaged daily rates of $898, a 16.9 increase over January 2020.

The Lahaina/Kaanapali/Kapalua region had room revenue of $69 (down 77.3 percent), average daily rates of $367 (down 7.4 percent) and occupancy at 18.7 percent (down 57.6 percentage points).

Statewide, as COVID-19 continues to impact tourism, hotels reported continued declines in room revenue and daily rates along with occupancy rates as compared to January 2020.

Room revenue statewide decreased to $58 (down 77.8 percent), while average daily rates fell to $251 (down 20.2

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos The sidewalks along Lahaina’s Front Street are busy with visitors Wednesday afternoon. As tourism returns and Maui County has nearly matched Oahu in visitor arrivals, the county’s hotels lead the state in room revenue and average daily rates, though occupancy continues to be far below what it was last year.

Lahaina’s Front Street shows signs of life Wednesday