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Area sees big drop in hotel demand

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: June 16, 2009

TAMPA - The Tampa-St. Petersburg area had the second-worst decline in the state in demand for hotel and motel rooms in April, a new report shows.

The area's mainstay visitors industry declined by 9.2 percent in hotel and motel rooms sold compared with a year ago, according to a report by Smith Travel Research, a leading industry consultant.

Only Florida's south central region, with a 9.9 percent drop in room sales, posted a greater decline in room demand. The region does not include Palm Beach or Fort Myers.

Overall, Florida saw a 4.3 percent decline and nationwide saw an 8.3 percent drop, the Tennessee-based consultant said.

In addition, the revenue produced per available room in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area declined 23.5 percent in April to $62.10 compared with a year ago.

In a separate report that includes condominium rentals and visits with local friends and relatives, overnight visitors to Pinellas County declined 7.7 percent in April to 768,200 compared with last year, a survey by Pinellas consultant Research Data Services Inc. of Tampa found.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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