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Post-Sept. 11, State Hotel Market a Mixed Bag

SPOKANE, WA-From the perspective of both a Northwest hotelier and an industry consultant, the strength of the hotel industry in Washington is spotty--cold spots being fly-to destinations, and the smaller drive-to areas marking the state's hot spots.

By Janet Parker | Updated on February 05, 2002

SPOKANE, WA-When asked how the Washington hotel industry is faring, Stephen Barbieri of WestCoast Hospitality Corp. says, “It’s really a mixed bag.” Barbieri, the Spokane-based hotelier’s VP of communications then adds, “As a whole, we certainly have not recovered fully from Sept. 11, and it’s tough to say when that will happen.”

The Tri Cities have had some decent results,” notes Barbieri, explaining that drive-to markets seem to be less affected than the major fly-to markets such as Seattle. “Yakima has also held up reasonably well since,” the VP speculates–offering that the central location may be promoting attendance of meetings booked at hotels there because the attendees can reach the destination by car.

Andy Olson is president of the Chambers Group, a Seattle-based consultancy specializing in the hotel industry–with particular emphasis on Washington. Olson also says that how much business the state’s hotels are seeing is largely a function of their location. “The larger, upscale hotels in the major markets like Seattle have experienced more difficulty.”

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