Choose Chicago and Smith Travel Research report that the Windy City’s hotel occupancy numbers have returned to pre-recession levels.
Hotel occupancy rose to 75.2 percent in 2012, up from 72.2 in 2011. This matched a previous record set in 2007. Average daily room rate rose to $187.27, from $177.33 in 2011 and RevPAR increased by 10 percent to $140.76.
Choose Chicago authorities citied their aggressive marketing strategy as a factor in the jump. Regional advertising campaigns, at a combined cost of $2 million, targeted Cincinnati, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and St. Louis markets.
