By Emily King

The holidays are over--Times Square has cleared out, window displays at Macy’s are changing back to mannequins, and the droves of yuletide-season tourists have left the big city. The first week in January is a low point for hotel occupancy in New York City, but a few hotels are introducing Hotel Week--seven days of steep discounts for off-season travelers coming to visit the big apple.

Visitors able to take advantage of the first-ever Hotel Week can enjoy steep discounts at eight hotels. Rooms can be found for as little as $100 a night between January 6 and January 15--in a city of sky-high hotel and travel costs, Hotel Week will bring in many frugal tourists. The participating hotels with $100 rooms vary from The Pod Hotel, with its trendy digs and integrated iPod docking stations, to The Hotel at Times Square, located in the heart of all the action.

The concept is based on the city’s popular twice-yearly Restaurant Week, during which eateries across the city offer fine meals at fixed prices. The event attracts diners at usually slow times of the year and will be having its 20th anniversary this year.

Many of New York’s attractions offer some sort of discount week in January or February. Musical fans can enjoy Broadway Week with two-for-one tickets January 17 - February 4, overlapping the season’s Restaurant Week (January 16 - February 10). Off-Broadway week also offers two-for-one tickets January 30 - February 12.

If you can brave the cold, New York City awaits filled with cheaper food, entertainment, and lodging.