Spokane-based Magnuson Hotels, which represents more than 1,500 independent hotels and lodges, reports that its affiliate businesses saw reservation revenue increase by 65 percent, comparing April 2010 with one year earlier.

The growth occurred in large part due to an increase of 444 hotels joining the Magnuson group, said company CEO Tom Magnuson.

Industry-wide, reservations in the U.S. hospitality business are struggling as the economy continues to limp along. Overall, the hospitality industry in this country has seen eight straight quarters of decreased sales, said Magnuson.

Magnuson provides reservation and purchasing services for affiliate hotels.

The company's press release noted its North American same-hotel reservation revenues are led by an increase of 39.2 percent in urban markets and 26.8 percent in resort markets. Urban markets are metros with populations of more than 150,000.

Same-hotel revenues for interstate and small town markets report a 13 percent increase year over year.  The company reported also that reservation revenue was largely driven by increased corporate, government, military, AAA and AARP business.

---

---