Despite concerns throughout the rest of the economy, the recovery in the lodging sector should continue unabated, according to a report from FBR Capital Markets.

In an interview with REIT.com, C. Patrick Scholes, lodging analyst with FBR, said that based on the firm’s examination of a large number of data sources, the hotel sector seems to be recovering well.

“Certainly, what we’re seeing is there hasn’t been any slow down in the pace of recovery for hotel reservations,” Scholes said. “At this point, there’s no evidence of a double-dip recession as it relates to U.S. hotel bookings.”

Upscale hotel chains, such as Marriott, Starwood and Hyatt, that focus on business travel are leading the recovery, Scholes noted. According to the report in the August issue of FBR’s Lodging Trend Observer, in July transient and group segment occupancies were at or slightly above their levels in 2007 and 2008. Hotel rates still remain below their peak levels by roughly 10 percent to 15 percent.

Scholes cited two main factors driving the lodging sectors numbers up.

“Hotel rooms in downtown urban locations get their business primarily from business travel, and businesses may not be hiring, but the employees that they have are out on the road right now,” Scholes said. “Downtown hotels tend toward the higher end of consumers, and they’re less affected than others right now.”

Based on the data collected in the report, Scholes said that booking rates for hotels should remain solid through the rest of 2010 and into next year, lending more evidence to the current stability of the sector.