AREA HOTELS 4.4% FULLER THIS YEAR.

Byline: Daily News

SANTA CLARITA - Santa Clarita Valley held the highest overall hotel occupancy rate in 2005 in Los Angeles County - a 4.4 percent increase compared to a year ago, according to a monthly industry survey.

The valley's average room rate also hit $108.67 last year, a 6.5 percent jump from 2004, while average occupancy and room rates countywide were the highest in six years, according to a report this week from San Francisco-based PKF Consulting, which tracks hospitality industry trends.

Average Santa Clarita hotel occupancy was 82.4 percent in 2005, exceeding the county average of nearly 77 percent. The second-highest occupancy rate was the Interstate 5 corridor at Whittier at 82.36 percent, followed by the Los Angeles International Airport area and West Hollywood, the report said.

Downtown Los Angeles held the lowest occupancy at 67.5 percent, but saw the largest year-to-year gain at 13.9 percent. While the rooms are filled, room rates in 2005 stayed below the county average of $126.61, the report said. Average local rates are comparable to suburbs such as Long Beach - $116.04 a night - and the San Fernando Valley at $111.40.

The I-5 corridor held the lowest average room rate at $82.89 a night; the highest was Beverly Hills at $301.71.

For December 2005, Santa Clarita hotel occupancy was nearly 76 percent - the second-highest in the county and a 9.1 percent increase from a year ago. Average room rate was $110.51 - a 10 percent increase from 2004.

Both average occupancy and room rates countywide were the highest since 2000, when occupancy levels were just above 77 percent and room rates were between $120 and $125.

Analysts have said the Santa Clarita Valley's location along the I-5 at the edge of the Los Angeles Basin is key to the industry's health. Also, the area's industrial parks and attractions, including Six Flags California's Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor, also draw visitors.

The Valencia Hyatt, Hilton Garden Inn and three mid-size inns operated by Valencia-based Ocean Park Hotels are near the freeway.

Ocean Park also is building a 112-room La Quinta Inn & Suites due to open in April, and a 142-room Courtyard by Marriott is slated for this summer. Innkeepers USA Limited Partnership has proposed building a 164-room Embassy Suites at the I-5/state Route 126 junction.

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(color) A 112-room La Quinta Inn & Suites is due to open in April on the Old Road south of Lyons Avenue in Newhall.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer