(Entertainment-NewsWire.com, September 24, 2012 ) Los Gatos, CA -- It’s no surprise to most Americans that the United States economy is still struggling, after a severe recession in 2008, but there is one industry that is thriving; the American travel industry.
Despite economic conditions that are tepid to say the least, the travel and hospitality industry has shown a strong rebound. According to research conducted by PKF Hospitality Research, on an average night in 2012, almost 3 million of the country’s 4.8 million available hotel rooms are occupied. This is nearly a 6% increase in the demand for lodging and accommodations in 2007, which according to USA Today, was the previous peak in the year, before the Great Recession.
The manager of the Hotel Los Gatos, a hotel in Silicon Valley, California, located at the base of the Santa Cruze Mountains, says he is not surprised by the upward trends in the travel industry.
“We’ve seen similar trends here at the Hotel Los Gatos,” said the manager, “and we’re a luxury hotel, so it’s showing us that it’s not just travel, but also luxury domestic travel is thriving. A lot of what we’ve seen from travelers is that people may not be willing to shell out the money for international trips like they did in the past, but they still want to travel and enjoy themselves, so domestic trips in the United States become more appealing. You’re saving some of the travel money, and a lot of people are doing shorter trips; maybe making reservations for a long weekend versus a week, but they’re still spending the money to get the most out of their trip.”
The manager of the Los Gatos also sees their prime location in the thriving Silicon Valley area as part of their success.
“As much as the economy is still growing very slowly, the Silicon Valley is a very vibrant area,” said the manager. “So we see a lot of the people employed in the area looking for Silicon Valley hotels for not only long weekends, but also corporate retreats and meeting spaces. I think a lot of the growth you see in the travel industry is dependent on the area you’re located in, and we’re lucky to be in a really booming part of the country.”
R. Mark Woodworth, president of PKF-HR responded to the findings in a press release, saying the positive news about the growing demand in the U.S. travel industry bucks “all apparent economic trends.”
Woodworth also said that the success and increased profits seen by hotels during 2012 are not the result of increased rates, but are the result of increased demand. He also said that during past periods of economic recovery, the travel industry has had a recovery that was slower than other industries, but this isn’t the case this time.
“We’re excited to see these upward trends,” said the manager of the Hotel Los Gatos. “We’re on track for a great year, and I think we’re going to continue seeing this climb in demand for hotels in the U.S., as the economy continues to grow.”
About the Company
Hotel Los Gatos is a Silicon Valley hotel that is the premier luxury address in the area. Located at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the hotel is a short drive from hyper-paced Silicon Valley and the soothing Santa Cruz coast. Atmospheric guestrooms capture the color and detail of a private villa. The hotel also offers a number of amenities, including a pool, outdoor jacuzzi, tranquil patio areas and warm hospitality. They offer complimentary access to a fitness club across the street, and guests are also welcome to reserve a spa appointment and make a dining reservation at DioDeka, a popular Michelin-rated restaurant located on property.
