The report is authored by Robert S. Benton & Associates Inc. Year-to-date, the average occupancy rate for hotels in the state is 56.5%, compared with 52.2% in the first four months of 2004. And the averageroom rate, year to date, is $112.13, compared with $103.32 a year earlier. That is about an 8.5% increase.

The report shows the highest average room rates were in Aspen, at $173.84, even though the occupancy rate stood at only 31%. Vail, by contrast, had a 45.2% occupancy rate, but an average room rate of only $146.95. Other resort markets, which would include Keystone, Copper Mountain, Breckenridge and Telluride, had an overall average room rate of $114.51 and an overall occupancy rate of 33.6%.

The total Colorado Springs hotel market showed an overall occupancy rate of 59.3% and an average room rate of $70.74. Colorado Springs is the second largest city in Colorado, after Denver. As previously reported by GlobeSt.com, the average room rate in the Denver area is $88.30.

The report also covers hotels in Durango, Cortez, Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, Estes Park, Montrose, Fort Collins, Steamboat Springs and Winter Park. There are more than 1.5 million available room nights in the state, and 836,346 of them were occupied in April.