the date is january 10, 2023, and maryton hotels’ cfo george smith is looking with dismay at his company’s financial performance during 2022. already facing stiff competition from other hotel chains as well as airbnb, maryton had run an operating loss in 2020 and 2021 and had responded by engaging in a broad effort to refresh hotel décor and update wi-fi and other infrastructure. that effort concluded in late 2021 and seemed to be showing success in early 2022. however, a variant of the covid-19 virus reached pandemic status in mid-2022, and business and leisure travel fell off considerably. occupancy rates at maryton properties plunged, producing a $10 million pre-tax net operating loss for 2022. maryton’s ceo has asked that george "work some of his accounting magic" to "put a positive spin on things" and minimize maryton’s net loss, hoping to calm concerns being voiced by investors and lenders.