THURSDAY April 23, 2020
Mathis Report: VanTrust is ‘taking a long view’ PAGE 3
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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
For hotels, a dark March
Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
“Now there’s no business. There’s no money coming in,” hotel owner says as the COVID-19 pandemic shuts down tourism.
OMNI CLOSED
Daily Record T Daily Record BY MAX MARBUT
The Omni Jacksonville Hotel at 245 Water St. Downtown and the Omni Amelia Island Resort are two of more than 40 Omni properties closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
JACKSONVILLE
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
he business shutdown caused by COVID-19 could lead to a long period of the lowest levels of local hotel occupancy on record. According to Visit Jacksonville’s March hotel report, the month began with some “small concerns” about COVID-19’s potential impact on business and leisure tourism. In the first 12 days of March, there was a “slight dip” in occupancy, but when social-distancing mandates were enacted and events started canceling, occupancy began to decline. Occupancy ended in March at 55.5%, more than 35% lower than in March 2019. With less demand for hotel rooms, the average room rate paid by guests declined $15 to $95.82. Revenue per available room dropped nearly $42 to $53.17. The percentage losses appear even greater because March 2019 was the best month in Duval
SEE HOTELS, PAGE 4
INSIDE Visit Jacksonville works to reschedule canceled conventions, looks to 2022 amid uncertainty. Page 4.
JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville March hotel occupancy, revenue March hotel occupancy was down slightly for the first 12 days in March, averaging 80% or higher during that period, according to Visit Jacksonville. As the COVID-19 pandemic escalated, The Players Championship was canceled March 12 and occupancy began to decline. By March 31, Mayor Lenny Curry limited hotels to accepting reservations only from “essential lodgers.” Total March room revenue was $29.5 million, $22.4 million less than 2019, a decline of 43.2%, Percent Average daily Percent Revenue per Percent Area Occupancy change room rate change available room change Arlington
57.6% -37.6% $89.45 -10.6% $51.53 -44.2%
Beaches
52.1% -42.0% $163.69 -11.6% $85.25 -48.8%
Downtown
44.3% -48.8% $124.05 -11.2% $54.98 -54.5%
Northside/Airport 55.4% -35.9% $89.98 -8.5%
$49.84 -41.4%
Southside/Mandarin 58.1% -31.1%
$49.52
$85.22
-15.1%
Photo by Scott Sailer
-41.5%
Westside
64.4% -24.9% $79.68 -8.2%
$51.30 -31.1%
Overall
55.5% -35.3% $95.82 -13.3% $53.17 -44.0%
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VOLUME 107, NO. 112 • TWO SECTIONS