San Diego hotel/tourism statistics are looking horrible, particularly when compared with performance in other cities. According to Smith Travel Research, local hoteliers' revenue per available room in the week of June 7 to 13 was down a stunning 42.3%, the largest decline in the top 25 markets. Occupancy at San Diego facilities was down 21.2% that week. This was the second worst performance in the 25 major markets: Detroit was down 28.1%. For the week of May 31-June 6, revenue per available room plunged 39.2%, the third largest decline in the top 25 markets. In the total USA that week, revenue per available room was down 22.9%.

One week may not be a good measure, points out La Jolla hotel guru Jerry Morrison. For the full month of May, San Diego occupancy was down 14.2 percent, eighth worst among the 25 major markets. Revenue per available room was down 26.1%, sixth worst among the top 25. The decline in revenue per available room at 26.1% was worse than the drops in Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Francisco in May. "While I am not an economist, it appears that the balance of 2009 and 2010 will be a difficult time for our industry and for the economy as a whole," says Morrison.