Low rates for US hotel rooms may outlast the recession

As U.S. hotels try to lure a shrinking number of business and leisure travelers, the industry appears to have adopted a new motto -- "Better cheap than empty."

But as hotels slash rates and offer sweet deals to fill empty rooms during the recession, they may regret their decision if customers get permanently spoiled by cheap lodging. There will be a resetting of rates and an expectation of low rates going into the future, recession or not.