Los Angeles County hotel occupancy and room rates rose in November compared to a year earlier as the local hospitality industry began the holiday season on a strong note.

The average occupancy rate in November was 74.27 percent, up from 71.18 percent in the year-ago period but down from 77.9 percent in October, according to data released by PKF Consulting, a hospitality consulting firm.

Pasadena hotels had the highest occupancy rate in November, at 80.72 percent, while downtown and Beverly Hills had the lowest occupancy rates of all submarkets at, respectively, 63.01 percent and 66.37 percent.

Visitors to L.A. County paid, on average, $127.66 per night in November, up from $119.44 a year earlier. The average room rate in October was $129.39.

With the exception of downtown, all submarkets saw room rates increase in November. Hollywood experienced the highest room-rate jump of all submarkets: It was up 15.2 percent to $146.20. The price of a room in downtown decreased nearly 8 percent to $113.66.

Beverly Hills hotels remained the most expensive in the county in November, at $293.84 for a night’s stay. The second priciest was Santa Monica, at $254.81.

Hotels in the San Gabriel Valley, around LAX and in the I-5 Corridor/Whittier area were among the cheapest in November at, respectively, $88.39, $87.42 and $86.37 per night.