The Americas region reported declines in all three key performance metrics when reported in U.S. dollars for February 2009, according to data compiled by STR and STR Global.

Occupancy for the region dropped 10.0 percent to 53.7 percent; average daily rate dropped 9.1 percent to US$102.07; and revenue per available room dropped 18.2 percent to US$54.80.

Among the key markets, Montreal, Canada (-2.7 percent to 54.1 percent), and Ottawa, Canada (-2.7 percent to 71.8 percent), reported the smallest decreases in occupancy in year-over-year measurement for February 2009. Santiago, Chile, had a decrease in occupancy of 22.6 percent to 56.2 percent-the largest decrease in occupancy among the markets. Santiago had the only increase in ADR, which was up 3.3 percent to US$131.74. Washington, D.C., United States, and Nassau, Bahamas, both reported ADR decreases of less than 2 percent (-1.9 percent to US$147.98 and 1.7 percent to US$322.09, respectively). Sao Paulo, Brazil, reported the largest decrease in ADR, which was down 26.7 percent to US$72.87. Washington, D.C., reported the only single-digit decrease in RevPAR (-5.8 percent to US$85.28). Sao Paulo led the RevPAR decreases, with a 38.7-percent decline to US$35.02. Toronto, Canada, also decreased more than 30 percent in RevPAR, ending the month down 30.9 percent to US$60.05.

Performances of key countries in February (all monetary units in local currency):
Country Occupancy % change ADR % change RevPAR % change
Argentina 57.0% -19.9% ARS505.33 +9.6% ARS287.97 -12.3%
Brazil 52.3% -12.4% BRL199.87 +2.8% BRL104.62 -10.0%
Canada 55.9% -6.5% CAD125.79 -0.7% CAD70.37 -7.2%
Mexico 61.3% -10.1% MXN1801.23 +21.1% MXN1104.52 +8.8%
United States 53.2% -10.1% USD100.41 -7.8% USD53.42 -17.1%

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Jeff Higley (STR)
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STR Global