Hoteliers see too much room at the inn

January 07, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Fortunes of the once-highflying hotel industry fell hard at the end of 2008 and the prospects for 2009 look grim as anxious Americans cut travel spending and leave plenty of room at the inn.

Hotel operators have seen room reservations fall drastically as business travelers and vacationers cut down on trips. In 2009, U.S. hotels will suffer one of the greatest annual declines in occupancy and revenue in history, according to analysts.

That’s terrible news for those in the hospitality industry, and the stocks of publicly traded hotel companies are taking a beating as investors flee.

In their suffering, however, many hotels will give travelers a break in the months ahead by lowering prices or offering incentives such as free meals in hopes of enticing more business.

“We just get creative,” said Mehdi Eftekari, general manager of the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, where he says occupancy is down slightly. Incentive packages might include a free breakfast, car rental or spa treatment with room booking. Perhaps they will offer paying guests their third night free.

Get the full story at the Los Angeles Times

Related Articles

Rate integrity in a down market
02 Jul, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Marketing is storytelling
02 Jul, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

How to maximize your hotel’s GDS distribution
30 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Aloft incorporates gaming into its Web experience
30 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Asia: Rate parity - the elusive dream which just got more elusive
25 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Carlson empowers employees to make revenue optimization decisions
25 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

How to ask better questions
25 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Hotel technology moving into the cloud
24 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

New hotel review site launches with independent, expert reviews
24 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Pegasus taps VFM Leonardo for ODD and Content Hub
24 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Most Popular Articles

How to maximize your hotel’s GDS distribution
30 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

PKF sees hotel rates continuing to fall in 2010
17 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

If you discount, do so carefully
18 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Summer travel trends according to hotels.com
23 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel

Luxury brands waking to a new reality
18 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

New hotel review site launches with independent, expert reviews
24 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Hotel technology moving into the cloud
24 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Destination marketing in the age of Web 2.0 and beyond
16 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel

Information key feature for tourism social networking
25 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel

“Thriving” not just “surviving” in a depressed economy: Tips for the independents
17 Jun, 2009 |

Economic Downturn

Rate integrity in a down market
02 Jul, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

The incredible shrinking airline
02 Jul, 2009 | Online Travel

U.S. spending on travel, tourism dropped 5.9% in first quarter
18 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel

If you discount, do so carefully
18 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Luxury brands waking to a new reality
18 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Travelocity says book now
17 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel

LHW courting guests discreetly with sweet deals
16 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

The new normal, according to McKinsey
11 Jun, 2009 | Internet Marketing

Pressure on hotel rates not likely to go away soon
04 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Travelocity issues ‘Traveler Confidence’ report
03 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel

New study reveals changes in leisure travelers’ online search behavior
02 Jun, 2009 |

Marriott launches ‘Deal of the Day’, exclusively on Twitter
02 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry

Expedia makes airline no-fee policy permanent, eliminates hotel cancel/change fees
28 May, 2009 | Online Travel

The new high-end consumer
28 May, 2009 | Internet Marketing

Hoteliers most concerned with marketing ROI
26 May, 2009 |

E-Mail Newsletter


Visit our sponsors: