U.S. weekly hotel room revenue rises 7.2 percent

LOS ANGELES, Sept 26 (Reuters) - U.S. hotels posted a 7.2 percent increase in room revenue for the week ended Sept. 22 from a year earlier, Smith Travel Research said on Wednesday.

Occupancy rose 0.1 percentage points to 67.3 percent, while room rates rose 7.1 percent to an average of $105.89 a night, according to Smith Travel, which tracks lodging industry data.

That boosted revenue per available room -- a combination of room rates and occupancy that is a benchmark of the industry's health -- by 7.2 percent to $71.26.

Major hotel operators in the survey included Marriott International Inc (MAR.N), Hilton Hotels Corp HLT.N and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc (HOT.N). (Reporting by Lisa Baertlein, editing by Tim Dobbyn)