Hotels are reporting increased leisure travel for the upcoming year, up 5.8 percent from 2011, according to TravelClick’s February Perspective survey. After seeing business travel drive the growth of transient business for hotels last year, TravelClick reports that its data now shows that demand heading into 2012 looks strong.

TravelClick, a consulting company specializing in hotel distribution, marketing and data, said committed occupancy, which represents group commitments (blocks) and transient reservations on the books, is up by 5.3 percent over this same time last year. Group commitments are driving this growth, with the group segment up by 5.4 percent. Group commitments are up over same time last year in every month of 2012. Group demand is especially strong in the second half of the year, up by 8 percent and 10.9 percent in the third quarter and fourth quarter of 2012, respectively. New group sales over the past month also have been strong, up by 6.2 percent over the comparable period last year.

The transient segment also is starting off the year on a positive note. Transient reservations on the books for 2012 are up by 4.8 percent over the same time last year. Transient business demand continues to be strong, up by 3.9 percent. On the other hand, transient leisure demand, flat in 2011, is currently up 5.8 percent. TravelClick said that while it is too early to project the overall leisure outlook for 2012, since most of this booking activity is for stays in the first quarter, it is nevertheless encouraging to see such strength in this segment as the year gets going. With all segments of demand now contributing to occupancy growth, and with rate recovery well under way, TravelClick is predicting another year of positive occupancy, ADR and revenue per available room (revPAR) growth in 2012.

According to TravelClick, regaining the ground lost during the economic downturn that began in 2008 has been a long journey. But a strong 2012 could get see ADR and revPAR return to pre-recession levels.