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“We’re trying to fix everything in four months that took place over 100 years, said Jack Welch, retired CEO of General Electric (GE).

 

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The hotel industry is now facing a perfect storm.  Occupancy rates have fallen by 14 consecutive months, while supply is up 2.4%, well above its long term trend growth rate. Business travelers are down 2-3%, leisure travelers are down 6-7%, and international travelers have been knocked out of the box by the suddenly stronger dollar. What corporate business remains is seeing prices beaten down by customers desperate to cut their own costs. Only the convention business remains healthy, because bookings were made one to three years ago, back in the boom days. Hotel managers are trying to stop the bleeding by adding the innocuous little fees that I always hate, such as for mini bar restocking, baggage storage, early check ins, and late check outs.