NORTH COUNTY —— Southern California's rain-soaked weather dramatically cut leisure travel to North County in January and February, local tourism officials said Monday. However, they said, rising business travel came to the rescue of some hotels, making up or exceeding that deficit.

"It appears that all of the leisure numbers are down rather dramatically on a year-over-year basis," said veteran local hotelier Robert Rauch. Exact numbers are not yet available, said Rauch, director of the Center for Hospitality and Tourism Research at San Diego State University's Hospitality and Tourism Management Program.

Rauch, who is developing two hotels in Carmel Valley, said he would not be surprised if North County's leisure travel were off by nearly 50 percent during the year's first two months. That drop is not only due to the weather, Rauch said, but a long-term change in travel trends that will make it harder for San Diego County to keep its title of one of the nation's hottest leisure destinations.

Even without the rains, leisure travel would probably be down in San Diego County, Rauch said, because factors that had boosted it have lost their potency. These include fear of air travel after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; and the desire to save money in the post-tech bubble economy by traveling domestically.

"The fear factor of the terrorist attacks has worn off a bit," Rauch said. "The economy has improved so people have more choices … they can go a little bit further and spend a little bit more money. San Diego is no longer the only logical choice."

Drive-in tourists

San Diego County traditionally attracts leisure visitors, many of whom drive here from other parts of California, said Cami Mattson, chairman and chief executive of the San Diego North Convention & Visitors Bureau. Approximately 55 percent of visitors are leisure travelers, 25 percent groups (such as conventions) and 20 percent individual business and government travel.

This "drive market" includes a large number of last-minute travelers who see the county as a relaxing but accessible getaway, Rauch said. But when the weather is bad, Rauch said, these impulse tourists see no point in travel.

"They don't want to get on the road when they are not able to escape the rains and find dry weather," Rauch said.

Business strength

However, room occupancy at the Rancho Bernardo Inn actually rose in January and February compared to a year ago, said Bob Peckenpaugh, the hotel's manager. Occupancy at the 285-room inn hovered around 80 percent, as opposed to 75 percent last year, he said. The hotel's clientele is traditionally dominated by business travelers, so it is less vulnerable to decreases in leisure travel.

About 80 percent of the visitors were there on business, Peckenpaugh said; 60 percent were from corporate groups and 20 percent from local businesses such as Sony and Hewlett-Packard; the remaining 20 percent were tourists.

When the weather was bad, many visitors used the inn's spa or went on indoor activities such as wine-tasting, Peckenpaugh said. However, he said the rainy weather discouraged use of the golf course, which costs an average of $85 a round, and usually takes about 80 people a day. When the course is not used at all, he said, that amounts to roughly $6,000 a day lost just in green fees, although some hardy visitors did play during the rain.

Likewise, the Four Seasons Resort at Aviara in Carlsbad reported that increased business travel made up for the loss in leisure visits. Occupancy levels were in the mid-70 percent level, said Rob Sapp, director of marketing.

Golf revenues for January were 10 percent below budget, Sapp said, but were 14 percent higher than January of last year.

"Although the golf course never closed during the rainstorms, lower golf rounds were offset by strong business levels at the spa —— a 40 percent increase in revenues from this time last year," Sapp said.

Competition intensifies

For the last few years, hotel occupancy rates during the summer high season have reached the high 90 percent mark. That showing will be increasingly hard to maintain unless the region spends more money marketing itself, Rauch said.

"Las Vegas has committed over the next five years to spend $1.3 billion —— with a 'b' —— to promote Las Vegas tourism," Rauch said. "We have not reinvented ourselves this year. We don't have any big new things to show off."

Contact staff writer Bradley J. Fikes at bfikes@nctimes.com or (760) 739-6641.