The overall occupancy rate for Valley hotel rooms during the first quarter was 75.8%, up 1.5 points from a year ago, according to Warnick & Co., a local hotel market analysis firm, based on number from Smith Travel Research.

The unusually cool and wet January and February in the Phoenix metropolitan area didn't impact the average daily room rates, which went up by 3% to $128.46. Revenue, on a room-to -oom basis, grew by 4.6% over the first quarter of 2000, to $97.37.

Phoenix's tourism market fared a little better than the rest of the country, where the slowing economy seemed to have a greater impact. Nationally, occupancy rates were up just 0.3 points, rates rose 3.8% and revenue per room grew by 4.1%. Arizona might be insulated from the downturn in tourism because of the strong influx of winter visitors that stay during the first three months of the year.

Scottsdale posted the highest occupancy rate of any area in the Valley, with a rate of 78.8% and the highest revenue per room at $147.66.

The Phoenix airport area had the strongest increase in revenue per room. Revenues per room rose 10.1% in the Phoenix airport area, 5.4% in Scottsdale, 4.7% in Tempe and 2% in the Mesa and Chandler areas.