This is the worst tourist season in 23 years in business for Mr Francis Brennan, proprietor of the five-star Park Hotel in Kenmare, Co Kerry.
But it is important to remember that tourism is experiencing difficulties not just in Ireland - there is a worldwide downturn, Mr Brennan, who has just returned from a world conference of small luxury hotels, is at pains to point this out.
The Park Hotel's business is down around 20 per cent in terms of the first three months of bookings. Most luxury and middle-market hotels are suffering since September 11th, according to Mr Brennan, who this year is chairman of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World organization, a consortium of 275 hotels worldwide.
His hotelier colleagues in San Francisco - "a high profile city" and therefore a target for terrorists - are reporting 35 per cent occupancy since last September, the conference in Houston heard.
"Thirty five per cent is a disaster, and those figures are from September right through to the end of April," Mr Brennan said.
Americans make up 63 per cent of The Park Hotel's business. This is typical of the luxury and middle end of the market in many Irish hotels.
"Yes we are suffering, yes there is a downturn. It is a worldwide phenomenon. However it is improving as we go along. But I am not sure we will make up.
"July and August are extremely poor for me and others prepared to tell the truth about it," Mr Brennan said.
After US Vice President Mr Dick Cheney's warnings about another attack, the only place safe now is "the Sahara", he quipped.
The importance of the American market cannot be overstated.
"There is no substitute in the holiday market for the Americans." Their spending on items such as giftware and clothing is huge. Gift-shop owners readily attest that two Americans will often spend as much as whole coach-loads of other nationalities, splashing out $10,000 on crystal purchases, for instance.
This is why it is vital to continue the advertising spend in North America, Mr Brennan said. "We need a special advertising campaign to salvage something."
Mr Brennan is stoical about the downturn. "I am here 23 years. We have had 22 wonderful years. We are getting walloped this year. I know that," he remarked before the Aer Lingus strike took its toll this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Kerry branch of the Irish Hotels Federation is dismayed at the Aer Lingus strike coming in the wake of September 11th and the foot-and-mouth scares. In a statement, the branch said the strike "by a handful of employees" at Aer Lingus was putting guesthouse and hotel owners in a very vulnerable position during an already threatened season.
"A very negative image of Ireland is being portrayed abroad, negating the marketing spend for 2002. Many travellers whose travel arrangements are now disrupted have already cancelled their visit to Ireland. Those considering visiting later in the season will see this as a threat to the security of their travel arrangements. They will switch to other competing locations for their holiday or short breaks," said Mr Pat Gill, chairman of the branch.