Is it just me? [Who thinks London hotel prices are increasing]
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,470
Is it just me? [Who thinks London hotel prices are increasing]
I was monitoring hotel prices (for some time) for an imminent trip to the London & UK and got the impression that hotel rates have risen quite substantially in the last 6-12 months. Not only for chains like Hilton & (particularly) Starwood, but also more modest ones like IHG. And not only in London, but elsewhere in the UK as well.
Am I right or not? If yes, are the hotels raising rates to compensate for the decline in the £?
Am I right or not? If yes, are the hotels raising rates to compensate for the decline in the £?
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,213
(for example) £100 is still the same as £100.
the fact that the $-£ rate used to be X and is now Y is neither here nor there. The hotel still wants / needs it's £100.
Room rates are also a function of demand. It's quite possible there a big events that are distorting pricing more than the exchange rate.
And actually with the lower exchange rates it's visitors to the UK that are getting the better deal. My hotel costs for a recent visit to the US were more expensive for me because of a change in the rate.
the fact that the $-£ rate used to be X and is now Y is neither here nor there. The hotel still wants / needs it's £100.
Room rates are also a function of demand. It's quite possible there a big events that are distorting pricing more than the exchange rate.
And actually with the lower exchange rates it's visitors to the UK that are getting the better deal. My hotel costs for a recent visit to the US were more expensive for me because of a change in the rate.
#3
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
The weaker pound gives hotels with a large proportion of foreign guests the opportunity to raise their rates with less risk of losing business. I don't know whether they're actually doing so, of course.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,470
(for example) £100 is still the same as £100.
the fact that the $-£ rate used to be X and is now Y is neither here nor there. The hotel still wants / needs it's £100.
Room rates are also a function of demand. It's quite possible there a big events that are distorting pricing more than the exchange rate.
And actually with the lower exchange rates it's visitors to the UK that are getting the better deal. My hotel costs for a recent visit to the US were more expensive for me because of a change in the rate.
the fact that the $-£ rate used to be X and is now Y is neither here nor there. The hotel still wants / needs it's £100.
Room rates are also a function of demand. It's quite possible there a big events that are distorting pricing more than the exchange rate.
And actually with the lower exchange rates it's visitors to the UK that are getting the better deal. My hotel costs for a recent visit to the US were more expensive for me because of a change in the rate.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,213
Am I right or not? If yes, are the hotels raising rates to compensate for the decline in the £?
#6
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,613
It's as others have said. The weaker pound is a factor. If it's cheaper for tourists to come and stay, prices will rise, either because the market will stand it, or through increased occupancy (or both).
On the other side, operating costs have increased - partly due to the cost of imports going up.
On the other side, operating costs have increased - partly due to the cost of imports going up.
#8
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 740
It has been talked about a fair bit, mostly in relation to Brexit Britain. The fall in the Pound has made the UK more appealing both to foreign tourists as well as domestic who now find that their holidays abroad are more expensive. This has worked well for British tourism who have capitalised on this by raising their prices. As long as they don't raise them too much, they'll still sell their rooms.