The recession officially began in December 2007, and he noticed the change early in 2008, as room rates sank. "There are more cigarette burns on the carpet, more flat screen TVs broken, more holes in the walls." People are throwing things and breaking televisions that cost $2,000 to $3,000. Plus, there are more cases where security responds to domestic violence in the rooms. - Mitchell Tsai from Bookmarklet

In March 2003, bemoaning that with war looming in the Middle East, the average Strip midweek room rate was down 24 percent to $104 and the average weekend rate was down 11 percent ... to $249. By the end of 2007, the average daily rate was more than $132. - Mitchell Tsai

Fast-forward to last Fourth of July, a three-day weekend, when the average room rate was just over $94, barely higher than the most recent average rates. This August, the average daily room rate was not quite $93, a year-to-date drop of 25 percent from last August, when it was $124. - Mitchell Tsai