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The effects of the coronavirus on tourism 4:34
(CNN) - The hotel industry has been hit hard as people continue to follow orders to stay home during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Only 21.6% of hotel rooms in the United States were occupied between March 29 and April 4, according to new data from the hospital analysis company STR. That's a 68% decrease compared to the same week last year.
- US entry restrictions worsening tourism industry situation
Those numbers could continue to drop, according to STR. Last week's percentage is slightly below the previous week.
The island of Oahu, Hawaii, is one of the hardest hit by the lack of hotel guests. Only 7% of hotel rooms are occupied, the lowest rate for any market in the country. That figure is down more than 90% from the same week last year.
In general, budget hotels and accommodation in suburban areas tend to have more people than other hotels, according to STR.
The findings are consistent with the broader trend within the hotel industry, as the coronavirus has forced hotels to take drastic measures to survive.
Marriott, for example, has laid off thousands of workers due to the high cancellation rate. The Intercontinental Hotels Group, which owns the Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotel brands, said the demand for rooms is the lowest it has ever seen.
Lack of employment also affects employees in the sector. An Oxford Economics study predicts that 44% of hotel employees in all states will lose their jobs as a result of the pandemic.
Mitch Patel, owner of Vision Hospitality Group, told CNN earlier this month that he hopes many hotels will not survive.
"When this is up, go out, travel, eat and be Americans again," said Patel. "But only when it's safe."
CNN's Matt McFarland contributed to this report.
Hotels