Jan. 23–The motel and hotel industry in Midland is still posting year-over-year gains, but it’s also starting to show signs of slowing down.

The latest report from the state’s Comptroller’s Office shows that Midland Amotels and hotels collected $6,817,525.61 in taxable receipts in November, an 11.98 percent increase from the same month in 2012.

The year-over-year increase is not, however, as steep as it was from November 2011 to November 2012, the data show. The taxable receipts totaled $6,000,633 in November 2012, which was about 19.88 percent more than the same month in 2011.

Even though motels and hotels are still continuing to make more money, in general, than the previous year, more rooms are becoming available as new construction surges around the city.

“In 2011, it was reasonably impossible to get a room,” said Keith Dial, DoubleTree by Hilton Midland Plaza’s general manager. “Now, you can get a room in Midland any night of the week.”

The increase in apartments, houses and man-camps have really impacted the housing supply in town, resulting in a decrease in total occupancy in hotels, Dial said.

“Occupancy is down pretty dramatically,” he said. “You’re probably going to have to compete a little harder than you did a year ago.”

Now, with overall occupancy on the decline, Dial said he predicts that motel and hotel revenues will continue to see a downward slope. He also said rates are likely to start declining, he said.

“As an industry, we will probably see some rate moderating,” Dial said. “That’s good for the consumer.”

Meanwhile, the hotel business is slowing faster in Odessa. The taxable receipts for November totaled $5,584,035.65, which is about a 0.84 percent decrease from the same month in 2012.

The decline is an abrupt change, especially after Odessa hotels and motels had $5,630,760 total taxable receipts in November 2012, which was an 11.31 percent increase from the same month in 2011.

Midland motels and hotels continue to stay on pace, keeping up with the motels and hotels in Lubbock, which has roughly twice the population.

The latest numbers show Lubbock motels and hotels had $7,043,385 in total taxable receipts in November, about 3 percent higher than Midland.

——

Hotel Business

(Taxable receipts)

November 2013

Midland: $6,817,525

Odessa: $5,584,035

Abilene: $2,888,611

Lubbock: $5,052,470

San Angelo: $2,948,479

Midland in November 2012: $6,000,633

Midland in November 2011: $4,807,436

Midland in November 2010: $2,724,805

Midland in November 2009 $2,225,866

Midland in November 2008: $2,916,731