RETAIL/TOURISM

Another Hotelier Headache: The average room occupancy in county hotels fell to 64.2% in May, down from 71.9% in the same month of 1990, according to the consulting firm of Pannell Kerr Forster in Irvine.

Average room rates in May dropped slightly countywide to $70.60, down from last year’s $70.99.

The Anaheim area took a major blow, with occupancy falling to 67.8% from last year’s 79.8%. North County actually showed an increase--posting a 62.4% occupancy rate, up from 59.4% a year ago. The Airport/Newport Beach area had 59.6% occupancy, down from 63.7%. South County had 62.4%, down from 63.9%.