The past couple of months have been filled with both good and bad news from the hotel industry. The hotels in Italy performed better in August 2009 than the rest of the hotels in Europe but the news from the Americas weren’t that good.
Middle East
On the other hand, hotels in Dubai has seen a 40% increase during Eid, according to this article from ArabianBusiness.com . Compared to the occupancy rates during Ramadan, a week before Eid the hotel bookings started to pick up, taking the occupancy rate up 75 percent. For the winter season, hoteliers expect an occupancy rate of 85-95%.
United States
In United States, the occupancy rates were down in September but the cost of rooms increased. According to this article from The News Tribune , the occupancy rate in Washington State went down by 3.4% in September 2009. But Seattle and Tri-Cities saw increases although small (1.1% and 0.9% respectively). The average room cost saw an increase of 4.6% statewide, reaching $142.99 in September 2009. Tacoma was the only region in the state where the cost of rooms saw an increase of 8.9%.
In Utah, the hotels in Salt Lake County filled 66% of their rooms in September 2009, down from 73% in September last year. Statewide the occupancy rate fell to 60% this year from 66% in September 2008. The average room rate was down $10 a night in Salt Lake City and almost $8 a night statewide.
For the week of 20-26 September 2009, six of the Top 25 travel markets in the States reported an increase in occupancy rates: Norfolk-Virginia Beach (Virginia), Oahu Island (Hawaii), Denver (Colorado), New York (New York), Anaheim-Santa Ana (California) and Orlando (Florida). The occupancy rates in these cities ranged from 48.9% (Orlando) to 79.7% (Oahu Island).
What does it mean for the travelers?
Although some of the markets are starting to see better days, the room prices are still down and the hoteliers still offer travel deals to keep those rooms occupied. In other words, if you still haven’t managed to take a vacation this year, the time before Christmas might just be perfect to find a great bargain. And if you are after a ski vacation, start searching the deals for mid-late January.
Having been nicknamed both the Sin City and the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas definitely lives up to its name. There’s always something to do in Las Vegas, whether you want to see a show, spend some money gambling or just relax in one of the hot nightclubs. 
You really cannot say you’d be bored in Las Vegas, regardless of the time of year when you plan your vacation. There’s always something going on. 
November is almost knocking on our doors and the weather in the Northern Hemisphere seems to be acting pretty much like it should by now: cold, crisp days, sprinkled with some rain and even some snow. Right about now, a beach, a cozy hotel room and some cocktails sound great. 
Kissimmee, Florida is a popular vacation spot particularly during spring and summer. It’s also located very close to Disney World and is a great choice for families who want to visit the theme parks but choose to save money on accommodation.
Key West is both a city and an island, part of the famous Florida Keys. It’s also the southernmost city in United States. Key West is popular among vacationers for its beaches, the possibility to practice a lot of waters ports and the variety of ecotourism activities. If you prefer some non-beach activities, check out the Key West City Cemetery, the McCoy Indigenous Park and the Shipwreck Museum.
The STR Global recently reported the Americas hotels performance results for August 2009. According to 
Florida Keys have been attracting visitors for decades whether they came here for the snorkeling, great weather or just the relaxed atmosphere. Located just few miles from Cuba, Key Largo is the largest of the Florida Keys and offers excellent beaches and great places to snorkel. 
The Keys might be small but there are plenty of things to do. And by the way: if you chose not to rent a car at the airport, you are probably going to think it was a bad idea because you surely want to be able to move around in order to experience a lot of interesting things. 
After visiting Budapest two times in the past two years and after falling hopelessly in love in Vienna on my latest vacation, I started recommending the two capitals to everyone who wants a tip when decided what to visit in Europe. Add Prague to the mix and you’ve got a trio of capitals which offer history, architecture, romance, nightlife and an incredible European feel. 
Ironically, most people visiting Kauai don’t come here when the weather is at its best. Rather, they come when the weather is cold pretty much everywhere else. So when the cold hits the Northern Hemisphere, Americans flock to Hawaii, making mid-December to March the busiest season in the islands. But the best weather is during the off seasons: mid-April to mid-June and November to mid-December. Beside great weather and almost no crowds, you’ll also be blessed with low rates both for accommodation and flights. 
In November the weather begins to dry up in Jamaica. It’s the end of the rainy season and the time when tourists start flocking to this interesting Caribbean island. Jamaica, although a small island, is very popular among tourists who prefer to book an all inclusive vacation here.