In a marketing offensive, SeaWorld will send 10 Volkswagen Beetles customized to resemble killer whales on a tour of the West this summer. SeaWorld saw its electricity prices triple last year as San Diego underwent deregulation. Hoteliers say their businesses are seriously threatened by the power crisis. Most tourists would rather not run the risk of being stuck in a hotel elevator. Summer is the off-season in the desert oasis of Palm Springs, where temperatures soar into the triple digits.
Some hotels say that given the added cost of power, it makes sense to close.
For the first time, the Palm Springs Marquis, a 165-room luxury hotel, is shutting from July 1 to Aug. 25 due to the power crisis. Around the state, hotel operators say they are already seeing a decline in occupancy, forcing them to cut rates on rooms. The California Division of Tourism has distributed a letter on its Web site, as well as in overseas offices and tour agencies, telling potential visitors that disruptions will be minimal and essential services are exempted from power outages. No one can pull the plug on the extraordinary experience visitors have come to expect in the Golden State.