Link: https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/the-world-cup-is-here-so-why-arent-hotels-full-and-what-does-it-mean-for-la

In May, the American Hotel and Lodging Association said that up to 70% of L.A. hotels reported bookings below expectations ahead of the World Cup — a trend happening across the board in World Cup host cities.

The report laid out a few possible reasons, including high fuel prices and “broader geopolitical concerns” that make international fans more reluctant to travel to the United States. The report said domestic travelers are forecasted to outpace international travelers.

Filla added that right now, bookings aren’t just lower than expected for the World Cup — they’re behind usual summer numbers too. That might be because mega-events can deter traditional hotel customers from visiting the city.

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Kurt Petersen, a co-president of the union Unite Here Local 11, told LAist that mega-events usually create a surge of employment.

This time around, he said workers are seeing fewer employment opportunities, especially in downtown L.A. hotels.

“The hope was that FIFA would bring work to all our members. That has not come to pass yet,” Petersen told LAist.

He said having fewer shifts during the World Cup means that workers may need to make “tough choices.”

“It’s difficult to live in Los Angeles [...] having less work means making harder choices about how to make your dollar go further,” he said.