Meeting Management: A SOFTENING HOTEL MARKET FOR 1999: FACT OR FANTASY?

"We've reached $400-a-night room rates in New York City and we're sick of it," says Maureen Karon, manager of meetings for Office Inc. in Manhattan. She echoes the frustration of meeting executives everywhere who have struggled with the hotel industry's strong seller's market over the past few years. But is relief finally in sight?