Magnuson Hotels reports reservations up 65 percent

Spokane-based Magnuson Hotels, which provides reservation services for independent hotels and lodges, reports that total reservations for all its affiliates increased by 65 percent compared to March 2009.

Magnuson CEO Tom Magnuson said a large share of that growth came from 444 hotels joining the Magnuson group since April 2009. The company now represents more than 1,500 affiliates, he said.

Even though the overall U.S. hospitality business is still struggling, the Magnuson company is seeing some bright spots, Magnuson said.

The company’s North American same-hotel reservation revenues included a 39 percent increase in urban markets and 26.8 percent in resort markets, he said. Urban markets are metro areas with population of more than 150,000.

Same-hotel revenues for interstate and small-town markets saw a 13 percent increase from March 2009 to March 2010.