PricewaterhouseCoopers categorized the markets by RevPAR and supply growth as follows:
 

The PricewaterhouseCoopers� study is an aggregate across all price segments. Individual properties may outperform the market in many of these cities.

�As PricewaterhouseCoopers forecasted, RevPAR trends will be stronger in 2000 but will slow somewhat in 2001. Rapid supply growth has dampened both occupancy gains and room rate increases throughout the country and will continue to do so as the supply increases are absorbed in many key markets,� said Bjorn Hanson, Ph.D., global industry partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers Hospitality & Leisure Practice.  �This has been a time of unprecedented supply growth, where new construction starts reached a record high in 1998 of 161,900 rooms.�

PricewaterhouseCoopers is the leader in econometric modelling and providing reliable U.S. lodging industry forecasts. The group predicted every industry turning point in the last ten years, usually two years in advance of each market move.

Recently, PricewaterhouseCoopers applied the same econometric modelling to the local level and can now offer forward-looking Market Outlooks. These local forecasts rely on extensive lodging data collection, empirical studies and solid econometric models to support all positions and conclusions. The Market Outlooks are patterned after the structure of the U.S. industry econometric model.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Hospitality and Leisure Group provides services including management, technology, human resources and financial consulting in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The group recently formed a partnership with Smith Travel Research.