Jacksonville Hotels having record month

[spuwho]

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=544083

The Daily Record highlights that Jacksonville hotel occupancy has been at record levels in October.

Garth Brooks/Trisha Yearwood
3 Jaguar home games
McCartney
Ringo Starr
Motley Crue
Alice Cooper
Florida-Georgia Game

Remember, the bed tax from these record hotel bed/nights is going to support the stadium and scoreboard.

Hyatt - 99%
Omni - 92%
Crowne Plaza - 90%
Hilton Garden Inn - 90%

Since Garth came to town Fionn McCools is reporting brisk business.

Remember the economic benefits also includes the stage workers, concessions, ticket management, guest services, security. 

SMG is calling in 7 days of workers in 10 days.  I don't know if this is the result of the recent renewed agreement with SMG, but I do admit there is more talent floating through town this fall.

[Steve]

Curious the rates that Hyatt is getting, but 99% is unreal for a 966 room hotel. That's build more hotels territory.....if they could
Keep it up.

[ben says]

Curious the rates that Hyatt is getting, but 99% is unreal for a 966 room hotel. That's build more hotels territory.....if they could
Keep it up.

Always forget how many rooms the Hyatt has.

Keep meaning to check the place out (only been in lobby).

Any idea when Crowne Plaza is rebranding to a DoubleTree? (Or is that a different hotel I'm thinking of....)

[WarDamJagFan]

Always enjoy reading stories like this, and it truly has been quite the entertaining month as far as the downtown area is concerned. In my own opinion, I feel like having calendars similar to October (regarding entertainment) is what will truly create the downtown environment that so many people want. City Council spending initiatives, Chamber group therapy sessions, etc. obviously don't cut it, because they've been trying those shenanigans for decades. If week end and week out, there is something fun and exciting going on, people will catch on and will want to be where the action is. It may take some time, but ultimately I believe it could pay huge dividends down the road.

[ProjectMaximus]

Curious the rates that Hyatt is getting, but 99% is unreal for a 966 room hotel. That's build more hotels territory.....if they could
Keep it up.

Always forget how many rooms the Hyatt has.

Keep meaning to check the place out (only been in lobby).

Any idea when Crowne Plaza is rebranding to a DoubleTree? (Or is that a different hotel I'm thinking of....)

The Hyatt rooms are ok but the Omni is still much better (except for river views).

[ben says]

Curious the rates that Hyatt is getting, but 99% is unreal for a 966 room hotel. That's build more hotels territory.....if they could
Keep it up.

Always forget how many rooms the Hyatt has.

Keep meaning to check the place out (only been in lobby).

Any idea when Crowne Plaza is rebranding to a DoubleTree? (Or is that a different hotel I'm thinking of....)

The Hyatt rooms are ok but the Omni is still much better (except for river views).

Had a friend come in for the Dave Matthews concert. Stayed at the Omni. I was extremely impressed with the lobby/staff/bar, but felt the rooms needed a huge upgrade (especially considering this is supposed to be the premier hotel in the city). Popcorn ceilings? Gimme a break.

That said, I know they recently went through a huge update (maybe they're in the process) - so maybe my experience was the exception, not the rule.

[ProjectMaximus]

yeah they aren't great and it is a little sad for the city. perhaps I shouldn't have said "much" better than the hyatt.

(btw I speak on behalf of my colleagues, who have stayed at both hotels dozens of times. My own personal experience has been just brief walkthroughs in which I paid little attention)

[thelakelander]

I've only seen the inside of rooms at the Hyatt. To be honest, I wasn't impressed, considering it's DT's newest hotel.

[simms3]

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=544083

The Daily Record highlights that Jacksonville hotel occupancy has been at record levels in October.

Garth Brooks/Trisha Yearwood
3 Jaguar home games
McCartney
Ringo Starr
Motley Crue
Alice Cooper
Florida-Georgia Game

Remember, the bed tax from these record hotel bed/nights is going to support the stadium and scoreboard.

Hyatt - 99%
Omni - 92%
Crowne Plaza - 90%
Hilton Garden Inn - 90%

Since Garth came to town Fionn McCools is reporting brisk business.

Remember the economic benefits also includes the stage workers, concessions, ticket management, guest services, security. 

SMG is calling in 7 days of workers in 10 days.  I don't know if this is the result of the recent renewed agreement with SMG, but I do admit there is more talent floating through town this fall.

If true, that is truly record breaking.  High level, "good" nationally is 70-75%, which is equivalent to 90% occupancy for office or 93-95% occupied for apartments, and would signify a need for more hotel rooms (this is annual, of course, with fluctuations by month/season).

Presumably higher occupancy drives Average Daily Rate growth, which is what investors look at as a key metric when deciding to buy a hotel or build a new one.  I've read (and heard) that Jax is typically one of the weakest hotel markets, and that the market overall is over supplied, but perhaps things are improving/changing?

What would have driven near 100% occupancy for the month of October?  Were there big events?  Is the driver a sustainable factor that will keep occupancy high like this for a large part of the year?

[edjax]

I believe the post listed the events driving the numbers.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Yes, there were major events, as mentioned in the first post.  The Garth Brooks and Paul McCartney concerts, the FL-GA game, the Jaguar home games against Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Miami (all of which drew substantial numbers of out-of-town fans).

Needless to say, probably not a month that's likely to recur.