Bowl games are bringing a surge of dollars into Arizona's tourism industry at a time when hotels are traditionally scrambling for patrons - after the holidays and before spring-training and convention season.
With a tripleheader of bowls in metro Phoenix between today and Jan. 10, room rates are spiking as hoteliers raise prices in response to soaring demand.
They're eagerly anticipating the added revenue. Although occupancy is up as the economy begins to recover, metro Phoenix room rates are down 5.3 percent for the year, according to Smith Travel Research.