[Excerpt] As hoteliers have long suspected, gasoline-price increases do depress overall lodging demand, but not all segments feel the effects in the same way (and some not at all).
“With gas prices at a premium this summer, every little bit helps,” proclaimed Wayne Wielgus, senior vice president of marketing for Choice Hotels, as he announced a gasoline price promotion in 2002. During that summer Choice Hotels gave its guests a 5gascardwhentheybookedinadvanceandstayedforaminimumoftwonightsatComfort,Quality,Clarion,Sleep,orMainStaySuitesproperties.Choiceplannedtogiveaway2 million in free gasoline in response to the concern that consumers would stay at home as gasoline prices rose. This view that gasoline-price increases depress hotel bookings is shared by many. A 2001 study suggested that 14 percent of all travelers, or 19.2 million people, would travel less or cancel vacations because of rising fuel prices
