Baltimore braces for downturn in citywides

According to this article on msnbc, Baltimore is looking at a somewhat bleak '06 when it comes to citywide conventions. As the headline--Hotels slashing prices to make up for lost '06 conventions-- suggests, there may be deals to be had:

A slowdown in citywide conventions in 2006 is putting pressure on downtown Baltimore hotel executives to court smaller groups more aggressively, with many planning to slash hotel rates, offer room upgrades and other incentives.





As of early July, meeting planners booked 155,400 room nights for citywide conventions in calendar year 2006, which is nearly one-third fewer than those booked in 2004 and 38 percent fewer than what is projected for 2005, according to the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association (BACVA).

While of course hoteliers say they'll be pricing on a case-by-case basis, it sounds like everyone's anticipating a buyer's market holdover for at least a year in that city.