LAYTON -- Davis County hotels are filling up. If March is any indication, a lot more people are choosing to spend the night in local hotels, according to figures compiled in the latest Rocky Mountain Lodging Report. In March, occupancy stood at 80.6 percent, meaning that of all hotel properties in the county, on average, just over four in five rooms were filled. That compared to 71.3 percent in Ogden, 83.9 percent in Salt Lake County and 72.5 percent in Utah County. For the state as a whole, the percentage was just under 78 percent. Davis Area Convention & Visitors Bureau CEO Barbara Riddle attributed the increase, which was a jump of almost 20 percent from February, to several factors.

"It was a combination of factors. The economy is up, and there is an organization (CVB) marketing the area, plus a new hotel (Hilton Garden) also marketing, and the Conference Center," all helping add to growth. "All of that makes for a big economic draw," and growth, she said.

March saw a lot of conferences at the Conference Center, with some overflow also due to an increase in conventions in Salt Lake County, Riddle said.

Figures for the first three months of this year are far above those for comparable months in 2005. Last year, February saw 54.2 percent of rooms occupied, and March grew to only 62.2 percent. January, which is usually a very slow month, was at 46.9 percent last year but jumped to 51.2 percent this year.

In addition, average daily rates paid for hotels have also risen, although only slightly. The rate grew from $66.74 in January to $67.18 in March, which was far above the same month a year ago, where the rate was $63.39.

The average daily rate has lagged behind the state and other area averages, however. For example, the rate for March in Ogden was $67.26, $75.07 in Utah County, $88.07 in Salt Lake City and $96.82 for the state.

Davis County rates are greatly impacted by the rate the federal government will pay. That is set by the General Services Administration.

Riddle is optimistic that Davis County is getting more noticed and visited. For example, reports of the recent familiarization tour for hoteliers at Antelope Island are appearing in several newspapers as well as on radio stations.

"The FairPark is getting more and more utilization," she continued. Nine percent of room nights can be attributed to FairPark activities, which generated 18 percent of "economic impact" to stores, restaurants, etc.

In addition, "Two of the state's top attractions are here," Riddle continued. Those attractions are Antelope Island, which has seen increased visitors, and Lagoon, which particularly impacts the area in the summer, drawing people from the entire region.

But there are other attractions, she said, including Farmington's S&S Railroad, Cherry Hill Resort & Campground, Great Salt Lake and Legacy Park nature preserves and Farmington Bay.

"Anything you need or want, you can find here," Riddle continued. That means everything from shopping and restaurants to close proximity to Ogden Valley and Salt Lake/Park City resorts, "without all the hubbub" of staying in downtown areas.

All of this tourist-related business also increases the tax dollars available for everything from FairPark upkeep and development to financially supporting the Conference Center.

Transient Room Taxes grew by 16.2 percent, last year, to $561,659, more than double the increase seen in 2004 of 7.4 percent.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com