The numbers are watched closely because the annual average $110 million in tax money collected from metro Orlando's 115,000 hotel rooms pays for the $750 million, fourth phase Orange County Convention Center due to be completed in May 2003.

The tax funds also pay for ongoing tourist promotions and could, pro-arena supporters argue, pay down a portion of a proposed new 18,500-sf basketball arena or the retrofitting of the existing 11-year-old, 17,300-seat, 350,000-sf T.D. Waterhouse Center.

Right now, however, the monthly collections of five cents on every dollar spent by tourists and business travelers on the area's hotel and motel rooms are down for March, April and May and could be down for June as well, brokers following Orlando's lodging industry tell GlobeSt.com.