Downtown Baltimore hotel occupancy is way down this summer

Baltimore Business Journal ^ | July 24, 2015 | by Asha Glover

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Baltimore’s hotel business is slumping this summer, just a year removed from a banner season for tourism and reflecting the lingering impact of April’s riots.

Hotels in downtown’s central business district posted an average occupancy rate of 73.3 percent in June, down from 82.5 percent in the year-ago month, according to data from travel research firm STR Inc. The occupancy rate in May dropped 17.1 percent to 64.7 percent.

As colleague Camille Harrison and myself reported in Friday’s cover story of the BBJ, hotels aren’t the only businesses feeling the sting from the riots.

Museums and attractions are struggling, and coming up with new ways to bring tourists back to Baltimore.

[mrsmel]

Well! This will require a federal grant, from the pockets of all those tourists who won’t come on their own! The raycissss!

[cnsmom]

I sometimes get great free tickets to the Orioles games from a family member (5th row behind dugout). I told him “thanks, but no thanks” this summer.

[RightGeek]

For the older folks:

[samtheman]

I wish I could boycott Baltimore but I never stopped there once. I guess I’m still spending there, though, since I pay the harbor tunnel toll.

[AlaskaErik]

I still can't believe the American Legion hasn't moved its annual convention to a more hospitable location. I know I won't be going.

[catnipman]

I wonder if offering some new urban safari packages would increase the hotel occupancy rate?

[Steely Tom]

Well! This will require a federal grant, from the pockets of all those tourists who won’t come on their own! The raycissss!

Yeah, just like the Obama bailout of Government Motors.

Hey, you refuse to spend your hard-earned money a GM Union-made piece of junk? Ha ha! The jokes on you! Your tax dollars are going to keep them out of bankruptcy and there's not a damn thing you can do about it! What do you think of that, you chump!

[Steely Tom]

Hey I watched The Twilight Zone many of a time, dressed in my PJs, afraid my parents would order me up to bed during the next commercial break.

I just used "The X=Files" because I'm getting old and I thought most FReepers would relate to it better.

[PAR35]

The mob used to protect the customers over in Little Italy. Has that changed?

[krunkygirl]

The cost of doing business in a Dem controlled city...

[RightGeek]

I wasn’t criticizing. I am one of the older folks.

[A_Former_Democrat]

“coming up with new ways to bring tourists back to Baltimore”

Gee, how about getting rid of your racist, incompetent public officials for starters?

[Steely Tom]

The mob used to protect the customers over in Little Italy. Has that changed?

Baltimore ain't NYC.

I doubt the Families have too much interest in Bodymore.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

“Righ’ hurr to ya left we gots deadz bodiez....now ova hurr patna in dis exhibit we gotz da memorialz to our homiez at da handz of da poleece!”

[A_Former_Democrat]

Yeah, why aren’t the Bostonians, New Yorkers, Vermonters and other Blue Staters vacationing and “diversifying” their beloved constituencies?

[Chode]

and people would want to go there as a destination, because???

[miserare]

What person with an ounce of common sense would want to vacation in this hellhole of a city?

[CtBigPat]

I hope this doesn't affect BronyCon 2015. I just bought my ticket!

[WayneS]

This is hugh and series...

[Gaffer]

the Extreme Danger Seekers Tour Bus.