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Boom times for hoteliers pretty much ended a year ago. But the industry went into a real dive this past fall with occupancy rates dropping 6.5% in October and another 10% to 12% in November, estimates Smith Travel Research. "It's like someone has taken the punch bowl away," says Peter Yesawich, CEO of Y Partnership, and a travel industry consultant...
...increase in projects being stopped. But demand is falling quickly too. "There's [been] nothing like this in history, in terms of falling demand" says Bjorn Hanson an industry analyst with New York University's hotel school. With the strengthening dollar, hotels are losing the European traveler; slumping corporate profits mean conventions are seeing fewer attendees; and as the job picture worsens, family vacation travel is down...
Discreet discounts, on the other hand, are all the rage. Priceline, for example is expanding its roster of top-flight inns. "Hotels that we've wanted for a long time, like five-star hotels, are coming in," says Chris Soder, president of North American travel. Yesawich explains that hotels are taking a portion of their inventory, maybe 20 to 50 rooms, and selectively discounting them in this opaque way. "Even a modest rate is better than no rate...
Another fundamental question is: Why do you want to travel alone? If it's to get away from a partner you feel is a burden or boring or otherwise not enjoyable to be with, then you probably need to take a better look at whether you're in the right relationship. But if your aim is to take a little "me-time" or to pursue activities and interests that you and your mate happen not to share, then there's no shame in leaving him or her at home. It's probably better that...
Read TIME's Travel Avenger column...