Seattle hotels in trouble with lowest occupancy on West Coast

SEATTLE — New numbers show that Seattle hotels have the lowest occupancy rate on the West Coast at 20%, according to Visit Seattle and Smith Travel Research.

In comparison, in October, Los Angeles was at 37% and Portland was at 28% occupancy.

The hotel and hospitality industry have taken a massive hit during the coronavirus pandemic with suggested quarantine periods and recommendations to not travel.

Revenue for Seattle hotels are down an estimated 80%.

Lower occupancy rates translate to fewer people needed in the hotel and restaurant industries and a loss of jobs.

Fewer visitors to the city also mean less business for arts-related venues such as museums and theaters as well as cultural communities which benefit from hotel guests and their tourism dollars.

Hotel owners, many of which are locally owned, say they need state and federal funding to survive.

Cox Media Group