Most expensive hotels starting to lower rates to fill rooms.

Byline: Tom Belden

If you're a traveler in search of a hotel room, especially if you want to splurge on some luxurious accommodations this summer or fall, then count yourself lucky. On the other hand, if you own or operate a hotel, smiling as your guests check in may be a little harder these days.

After an excellent run going back five or six years for most hoteliers, the measures of health their industry uses have suddenly weakened, mostly because business travel has taken a downturn this year as a result of the economy's losing much of its steam.

While the first quarter of the year wasn't bad, April and May turned much worse, with business travelers in droves apparently staying close to home, according to consultants and others who monitor the hospitality …