The average hotel occupancy rate in March was 59.9%, compared with 60.1% inMarch 2004, while the average room rate rose to $124.24, from $118.80 inMarch 2004. In the first quarter, the average occupancy rate was at 57.1%,compared with 55.2% in the first three months of 2004, and the average roomrate was $119.34, compared with $109.28 during the same time period in 2004.

The report, by Robert S. Benton & Associates, shows that Aspen has thehighest average room rate at $403.22, followed by Vail at $374.80. Both ski resorts also have high occupancy rates, at 82.7% for Aspen and83.5% for Vail. Vail had the highest occupancy rate of any of themarkets tracked in the report. Ski resorts benefited in March from strongspring snow. Hotels in Winter Park, for example, had an average occupancyrate of 80.2% in March, and an average room rate of $167.02. SteamboatSprings had an average occupancy rate of 70.2% and an average room rate of$178.38. Other resorts, a category that would include Keystone, CopperMountain and Telluride, showed an average occupancy rate of 69.5% and anaverage room rate of $241.57.

Overall occupancy rates for all hotels in Colorado Springs stood at 50.9%,while the average room rate was 66.6%. The average occupancy rate for LevelI, or class A hotels, was 54.2% in Colorado Springs, and the best hotelscommanded an overall average room of $77.29. By contrast, Level II, or classB hotels in Colorado Springs, had an average occupancy rate of 46.7% and anaverage room rate of $50.28.