In 2011, the U.S. lodging industry reported $21.6 billion in pre-tax profits and $137.5 billion in sales — up 20 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively, from $18 billion and $137.5 billion in 2010 — according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), which last week released its 2011 Lodging Industry Profile (LIP).
An annual statistical analysis of the domestic lodging industry — which currently includes 52, 214 hotels employing 1.8 million hotel workers — this year's LIP shows that lodging industry sales contributed to an overall $813 billion in tourism sales, with resident and international travelers' expenditures totaling an estimated $2.2 billion per day. That's $92.8 million per hour, $1.5 million per minute or $25,700 per second.
"After a long economic downturn, in 2011, the lodging industry turned the corner," said AH&LA President and CEO Joe McInerney. "As occupancy hit 60 percent, we're starting to see an overall rate increase, which bodes well for 2012."
Along with sales and profits, U.S. hotels also reported increased international visitors: According to AH&LA, the percentage of international travelers to the United States increased 4 percent from 59.7 million in 2010 to a record 63.2 million 2011. Arrivals were strongest from the following 10 countries, which accounted for 80 percent of U.S. international visitors:
• Canada: 21 million
• Mexico: 13.4 million
• United Kingdom: 3.8 million
• Japan: 3.2 million
• Germany: 1.8 million
• France: 1.5 million
• Brazil: 1.5 million
• South Korea: 1.1 million
• China: 1.1 million
• Australia: 1 million