NEW YORK— On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, lodging occupancy levels declined compared with 2000, averaging 29.6% on Christmas Eve and 30% on Christmas Day, compared with 32.1% and 32.5% last year, a 7.7% decline for each day based on PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis of Smith Travel Research data. For New Years Eve, occupancy was 57.3%, a 4. 5% decrease from the 2000-2001 New Year, and New Years Day 2002 occupancy was 30.4%, a 5% decrease from 2001. The top four factors affecting holiday occupancy included the economy, air travel inconvenience, possible air travel delays from perceived threats, and safety issues, said PwC. In 2002, PwC forecasts lodging industry occupancy will decline to 59.6%, the lowest hotel occupancy level since 1971. No chain scale segment is expected to enjoy occupancy gains until 2003. By 2003, demand growth will increase amid supply growth of only 0.8%, allowing occupancy to increase to 60.8%, PwC reported. This years holiday occupancies were the lowest since 1990; the 2001 fourth quarters occupancy is estimated at 54.8%, which is the lowest since 1971.
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