World's Largest Cruise Ship - Oasis of the Seas

The world’s largest cruise ship is in the water and set to reach Port Everglades on November 11, and Fort Lauderdale hoteliers may have a lot to gain.

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas features 16 decks, 2,700 staterooms, and an open-air “Central Park” in the middle of the boat.  To say it’s big, even by cruise ship standards, would be an understatement.

Tourist officials in Fort Lauderdale are hoping that the big ship’s arrival will mean more people staying in Fort Lauderdale hotels.

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Now you can book a room in NYC and have enough left over to hail a few cabs

According to a recent article in the New York Times, hotel rates in Manhattan have been drastically reduced to counteract sagging occupancy rates.

Now, the New York Times is concerned with whether or not this is a wise move for hotel operators.  They question whether this will actually attract new visitors and ultimately improve the financial health of Manhattan properties.  The article discusses whether there are better alternatives for hotels to entice guests to stay.

I, personally, don’t care if it’s good for the hotel industry or not.

I am simply thrilled that the end result makes Manhattan a more affordable place to visit.

Hotels in Manhattan are, on average, cheaper to book than they were a year ago.  That’s good news for budget conscious travelers with an eye towards the Big Apple.  Period.

How much cheaper?

According to the New York Times article, the average price for a Manhattan hotel room in 2008 was $280 per night.  The average hotel room rate for 2009 is $198 per night.  Spread that out over a 3 night stay, and you’re saving almost $300 for the exact same hotel stay.

You’ll find comparable savings if you choose to stay in a luxury hotel in Manhattan.  Rates for luxury hotel rooms in Manhattan have gone from a 2008 average of $401 to a 2009 estimated average of $289 per night.  Now might be the best time to finally splurge on a little New York City luxury, if your budget will allow it.

How long will these savings stick around?

Obviously, no one can say for sure, and even estimated guesses are still just guesses.  But experts predict it will take years before hotels can get their rates back up to pre-economy crisis levels.  While customers will happily jump on a good deal, they’re much more reluctant to go along with rapidly increasing prices.

The bottom line is this:

If you’ve been considering a trip to New York City, now is a great time to finally book the trip.

Photo Credits: Miss Britt on FlickR

The Las Vegas Strip

You don’t have to be a professional economist to see the current global financial slump is hitting the  hotel industry especially hard.  A recent story in the Wall Street Journal reported that occupancy rates are down to 50%, and vacancies are at a 20 year high.

In the short term, this means it’s easy to find deals, even at luxury properties that traditionally don’t give discounts. Free nights, extra amenities and waived fees are becoming the norm. Wooo! Party!

However, in the long term it means that many hotel owners are in serious danger of defaulting on mortgages. It’s likely that the current decline, which is already worse that the one that followed 9/11, will continue into the foreseeable future.

photo courtesy of snowriderguy on flickr