LOCAL HOTELS 90 PERCENT FULL IN MARCH OCCUPANCY RATE TOTAL HIGHEST IN THE COUNTY.

Byline: EUGENE TONG Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- The valley held a 90 percent hotel occupancy rate in March, the highest in Los Angeles County, despite a slight drop from the same period a year ago, an industry survey said.

Santa Clarita officials attributed the 90.32 percent occupancy, which exceeded the countywide average of 80.81 percent, to city's annual AT&T Classic -- a PGA Champions Tour event -- and spring break visitors flocking to such attractions as Six Flags California's Magic Mountain.

``March was a great month,'' Tim Aylsworth, director of sales and marketing at the Hyatt Valencia, said in a statement. ``Our occupancy was driven by our group business and was highlighted by being the host hotel for the AT&T Classic.''

Still, that rate was down about 2.5 percent from 2005, according to PKF Consulting's monthly hotel business survey. Countywide occupancy gained 2.3 percent in March compared to a year ago.

Average room rates for the month stood at $122.15, about 12.5 percent higher than $108.55 a year ago. Tristine Lim, who compiles the monthly report, believes it's supply and demand at work.

``There are some hotels coming into the area, but until then, supply's limited,'' said Lim, who compiles the monthly report for the San Francisco-based consulting firm.

Two new hotels -- the 112-room La Quinta Inn & Suites and a 140-room Marriott Courtyard -- along the Old Road and Lyons Avenue, are slated to open within the next two years.

For the first three months of 2006, Santa Clarita Valley hotels were 80.27 percent filled, down 2.3 percent from the same quarter in 2005. The average daily room rate was $118.31, an 11.4 percent increase. Countywide first-quarter occupancy was 78.3 percent, with average room rates of $144.68.

Lim said the region's hotel business in the second quarter -- the summer travel season -- should be comparable to last year, though high fuel prices may discourage long-distance travelers.

``We got some reports saying that airfares are considerably higher as well,'' he said. ``So people may choose to stay in the area.''

In Los Angeles County, West Hollywood held the second-highest occupancy in March at 88.9 percent; the lowest was Marina Del Rey at 76.02 percent.

Beverly Hills had the highest average daily room rate for the month at $363; downtown Los Angeles cost the least at $83.47.

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

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