Hotels are packed

L.A. is on its way to a very strong tourist summer, at least judging by the June report from PKF Consulting. The occupancy rate for L.A. County was 81.1 percent, compared with 78.9 percent a year earlier (anything over 70 percent is considered decent). Nine areas were over 80 percent, including: Santa Clarita (91.0 percent); LAX (86.0 percent); West Hollywood (85.6 percent); Pasadena (84.4 percent); San Fernando Valley (83.9 percent); Hollywood (83.5 percent); I-5 Corridor/Whittier (83.4 percent); Santa Monica (82.9 percent); and South Bay (80.1 percent). Even downtown, a perennial bottom dweller, registered a solid 77 percent occupancy, up from 71 percent last year. Those are very good numbers, but Jack Kyser, chief economist of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp., also pointed out an 11.6 percent increase in the average daily room rate, to $142.85. Not surprisingly, Beverly Hills topped the list at $357.47. Downtown's average room rate was $127.20 a night, up from $114.80 a year earlier but down from $147.14 in May, when the E3 video game convention filled up a lot of downtown hotels. June's numbers are the latest available from PKF.

Here's a rundown on June occupancy throughout the state:
Los Angeles County - 78.9%
Orange County - 77.5%
San Diego County - 83.4%
San Francisco - 80.2%
San Jose/Peninsula - 72.0%