London, 15 May 2014 – Whilst hotel prices in Greece are increasing once more the strong Pound is good for long-haul travellers. The hotel price barometer of hotel.info demonstrates how hotel prices have changed both domestically and abroad.
Overnight costs in London remain at the level of last year
The Crimean crisis has an influence on the hotel market in Kiev
The strong Pound makes a visit to the World Cup in Brazil cheaper
Results of the hotel price barometer for the United Kingdom (prices in GBP)*
City March ’14 March ’13 Comparison March ’14 with March ’13 in %
1. London 116.77 115.66 0.96
2. Birmingham 80.17 67.64 18.52
3. Glasgow 79.43 80.97 -1.90
Overnight costs in London remain stable in comparison with the same period last year at £116.77. However hotel guests in Birmingham have to pay considerably more. The average costs per room and night increased by 18,52 % to £80.17. Glasgow has more favourable prices for the traveller now in comparison with last year.
Results of the hotel price barometer for selected European capital cities (prices in GBP)*
City March ’14 March ’13 Comparison March ’14 with March ’13 in %
1. Stockholm 123.93 131.65 -5.86
2. Oslo 123.25 117.39 4.99
3. Helsinki 122.24 109.43 11.71
4. Moscow 119.29 146.50 -18.58
5. London 116.77 115.66 0.96
6. Copenhagen 113.57 101.81 11.54
7. Paris 106.57 103.64 2.82
8. Brussels 105.84 103.01 2.75
9. Amsterdam 101.12 91.85 10.09
10. Rome 80.71 78.76 2.47
11. Vienna 72.62 75.16 -3.38
12. Berlin 69.38 72.41 -4.19
13. Athens 67.61 56.88 18.86
14. Warsaw 66.17 67.75 -2.32
15. Budapest 63.78 62.55 1.97
16. Kiev 61.32 89.58 -31.55
17. Lisbon 60.82 57.73 5.34
18. Madrid 59.73 62.76 -4.83
19. Prague 54.75 58.01 5.62
20. Sofia 54.21 65.74 -17.53
Stockholm at about £124 per room and night is currently the most expensive city in Europe. With Oslo and Helsinki two other northern capitals make up the Top 3. The Russian multi-million city Moscow, is now in fourth place amongst the European capitals having been the most expensive city in previous years with prices around £119,29.
The rouble and the Ukrainian currency have weakened in value against the Pound as a result of the Crimean crisis. This is why hotel guests from the United Kingdom now pay 19% less in Moscow in comparison with last year. In Kiev the rates sank in respect of their price in Pounds by more than 30 % to £61,32. „Despite the currency effect we have seen a marked decline in bookings for hotels in Kiev. As a result of the disturbances and the continuing uncertainty many tourists and business travellers are staying away from the Ukrainian capital,“ said Ralf Priemer, board member with responsibility for international hotel sales at hotel.info.
An improvement seems to be coming in Greece. Prices fell for hotel rooms during the course of the Greek economic crisis and the resultant fall in demand but now rates are increasing markedly once more. In comparison with the previous year guests now have to pay much more and, for example, in Athens average prices of £67.61 are 19 % more expensive.
The results of the Hotel price barometer for a selection of large international cities (prices in GBP)*
City March ’14 March ’13 Comparison March ’14 with March ’13 in %
1. Sydney 151.53 162.74 -6.89
2. Singapore 127.82 141.09 -9.40
3. New York 122.03 174.06 -29.89
4. Tokyo 119.67 112.22 6.64
5. Hong Kong 119.00 129.92 -8.40
6. Seoul 115.45 123.58 -6.58
7. Rio de Janeiro 105.46 151.57 -30.42
8. São Paulo 86.54 117.20 -26.17
9. Buenos Aires 79.54 77.60 2.50
10. Shanghai 76.55 81.08 -5.60
In other continents New York is relatively cheap. Before average rates in the city for an overnight stay were more than £170, now the traveller only has to pay about £122 or almost 30 % less.
Similarly other large cities such as Rio de Janeiro (-30.42 %) and São Paulo (-26.17 %) are now cheaper as well. Here the weakness of the Brazilian currency is of significance. For last-minute travellers hotel.info still has rooms available for the period of the World Cup.**
*Currency conversions are based on the average rates for the relevant month.
**As at: 14/05/14 Room allotments bookable according to availability
