The 18-story San Francisco Downtown Courtyard by Marriott opened yesterday at 299 Second St. (x Folsom) during one of the toughest times on record for the Bay Area hotel market.

The 405-room South of Market property will run at about 20 percent occupancy this weekend and 35 percent occupancy by next week, said Marketing Director Stacey Erickson. The hotel is the Bay Area's 51st Marriott- branded property and its 18th Courtyard hotel. Marriott and its franchise partners employ about 7,500 in the Bay Area.