In January, Visit Savannah received its monthly report from travel research firm STR, formerly Smith Travel Research, on December 2018’s year-end hotel occupancy and rate information. This report shows that despite hundreds of new hotel rooms opening in 2018, occupancy rates remained at 70.4% for the Savannah area, indicating a continued demand to visit Savannah. The area’s ADR, or average daily rate, showed an increase of about $1 from December 2017 to 2018.

“The final hotel data from 2018 tells us that the last two years have been the best two years in Savannah’s tourism history,” says Joseph Marinelli, president of Visit Savannah. “Even with the addition of a number of new hotels throughout the market and an increase in short-term rental inventory, the occupancy and average rate figures continue to hold their own. We are extremely encouraged by this, especially with several new properties planned to open later this year. It also tells us that all of the increased non-stop air service from around the country is making a difference.”

In Savannah’s National Historic Landmark District, occupancy rates again reached 77.9% and the average daily rate increased by 1.4% or almost $2. New properties providing a more luxurious experience like Perry Lane Hotel and The Alida, and major renovations of each of Savannah’s four largest hotels (The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, The Hyatt Regency Savannah, The Savannah Marriott Riverfront and The DeSoto Savannah) have likely contributed to the increase in average room rates.