L.A. County Hotel Occupancy Rate Falls

Sluggish reservations at the Hollywood Holiday Inn contributed to a nearly 1% drop in occupancy rates among Los Angeles County hotels in the first quarter of 1999 compared with the first three months of last year, according to PKF Consulting, which tracks the Southern California hospitality industry. However, area hotels were still booked to 75% capacity during the quarter, said Michael Collins of the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. The landmark Holiday Inn announced in fall that it would close for at least two years for an extensive remodeling, which was enough to scare bookings away from the 450-room facility, Collins said. During the quarter, the average price per room at area hotels rose nearly 5% to $115.41. Economists use hotel occupancy to gauge the health of the region’s tourist trade.