Hotel figures.

After a strong January, Los Angeles County hotels continued to see room rates increases in February, while the average occupancy rate reversed course, according to data released by hospitality consulting firm PKF Consulting.

Across the county, the average occupancy rate was 78.6 percent, down from 79.1 percent from the same period last year. In January, the average occupancy rate clocked in at 76 percent, up from 73.6 last year.

West Hollywood hotels had the highest February occupancy rate, at 84.4 percent. After a topping other county hotels in January, hotels in the airport area Stayed full with an 84.2 percent occupancy rate. Hollywood hotels followed closely at 81.3 percent.

Countywide, the average amount for a night stay increased to slightly under $145 in February, compared to $135 for the same month last year. In January, guests paid, on average, $142.

Beverly Hills hotels remained the most expensive in February, with a nearly $371 average daily room rate. No other area came close to those pricey rooms, although rooms in Santa Monica and other West L.A. locations did go for around $250 in February.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County hotel market last year was cool compared to the blazing California market in which the hotel sales volume hit a record high, according to data released by Atlas Hospitality Group.

Locally, hotel sales increased 4.2 percent to 75, while the dollar volume was up over 61 percent to slightly more than $1.5 billion. In the state, the sales volume was up over 105 percent to 367, with the dollar volume topping $4.5 billion.

The largest hotel to sell last year in Los Angeles County was the 1,011-room Marriott Los Angeles Airport, while the most expensive hotel was the 728-room Century Plaza Hotel & Tower, which fetched $293 million.

Staff reporter Rachel Brown can be reached at [phone], ext. 224, or at [e-mail].