By JAMES FINK
jfink@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1611

With the International Ice Hockey Federation's 2011 World Junior championship series just days away, visitors are filling local hotel rooms and the local hospitality industry is seeing an improvement after a nearly two-year slump.

Statistics compiled by Smith Travel Research of Nashville reveal that hotel occupancy rates increased in Buffalo, both for the month of November and year-to-date. Occupancy is considered a key economic factor in the industry.

According to the statistics, hotel occupancy in November increased 5.8 percent for Buffalo and Erie County, from 60.5 percent for that month in 2009 to 64 percent this November. The information is based on data supplied by the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp.

November got a nice boost from a Buffalo Bills home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which typically attracts a large, out-of-town following. Special events such as the World's Largest Disco also helped fill area hotel rooms.

For the year-to-date, hotel occupancy in Buffalo and Erie County increased from 63.7 percent in 2009 to 65.8 percent.

In Niagara Falls, meanwhile, occupancy rates were off 9.1 percent, falling to 39.2 percent. For the year-to-date, however, more hotel rooms were booked: The occupancy rate increased 3.3 percent to 58.7 percent.

Rochester saw its hotel occupancy rate for November up 3.3 percent from last year, for a rate of 49.7 percent.

The Flower City reported a 6.1 percent increase in hotel occupancy through November, from 54 percent in the first 11 months of 2009 to 57.3 percent for the same period in 2010.

Nationally, the hotel occupancy rate rose 9 percent in November, increasing to 53.3 percent for this year.

Year-to-date, hotel occupancy across the country reportedly increased 5.7 percent to 58.7 percent.