Although innkeepers are noting a gradual increase in guest arrivals and reservations in the last few months, Haynie suspects the lower room rates that hotel owners are discounting may be the reason for lower monthly tax collections.

The monthly tax collection numbers from 105,000 hotels and motels in Central Florida are watched closely by hotel developers and investors as a barometer of the area's industry health. A large part of the collections is used to pay down debt on the $750 million, one-million-sf expansion of the four-million-sf Orange County Convention Center.

The center's new addition is expected to be ready to host its first show in September after final construction work is completed this month, according to convention center manager Tom Ackert. He has told county commissioners the job will be completed on time and within the county's $490 million construction budget. Other county staffers, however, tell GlobeSt.com the project will be over budget by about $10 million. Final cost figures won't be tabulated until late 2004.