Olympic bargains galore as London's theatres and hotels slash rates
#1
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,836
Olympic hotel sale prices really begin?
I just got an email from the Corinthia Hotel, an upscale hotel that believes it is a luxury hotel, that they are now offering rates of GBP320 up (excl VAT) with no minimum stay during the Olympics. Not sure if all dates are available.
The hotel is located near Charing Cross station.
This is not far above their regular rack, although they often have sales.
The hotel is located near Charing Cross station.
This is not far above their regular rack, although they often have sales.
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: somewhere north of London, UK
Programs: HH Gold, BA Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 15,245
In the recent Hoxton sale, they were offering 1 rooms right through August.
IMO, London hotels are far from sold out and prices can only fall in the coming weeks.
I've read this isn't unusual for Olympic host cities and the more I think about it, it doesn't surprise me in the least. I'd never take my wife and kids to see the "canoe sprint" let alone fly half way across the world to do it, but because it's here, I want to do it.
Very few events will surely attract the 'pay anything' brigade. 100m finals and the like maybe, but elsewhere you've presumably got locals (incl. 'near Euorpe') and contestant friends & families. I may have to stay in London during week 1 but I'm not sweating it (and worst case scenario I can be home in 90 mins...)
IMO, London hotels are far from sold out and prices can only fall in the coming weeks.
I've read this isn't unusual for Olympic host cities and the more I think about it, it doesn't surprise me in the least. I'd never take my wife and kids to see the "canoe sprint" let alone fly half way across the world to do it, but because it's here, I want to do it.
Very few events will surely attract the 'pay anything' brigade. 100m finals and the like maybe, but elsewhere you've presumably got locals (incl. 'near Euorpe') and contestant friends & families. I may have to stay in London during week 1 but I'm not sweating it (and worst case scenario I can be home in 90 mins...)
#3
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,443
In the mean time, though, hotels lost a lot of business, some of it ongoing, annual business – the eclipse was in August and lots of families and also some retired people take an annual summer holiday or break in that part of the country. Some, I know, found other places that they're still visiting each summer...
That scenario won't play out in London, of course, but I do sometimes wonder at the wisdom of pushing prices sky-high because of a one-off event.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,865
Desperation is setting in now. A lot of places seem to be not far off their usual August prices. The Guoman chain, which is only in London in the UK, has even launched a 50% off sale which covers the games. And Park Plaza are giving away a free night (well, 50,000 Carlson points, so actually up to 5 nights!) if you pay for 1 night at the moment, covering all of August.
#6
Ambassador: LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PNA
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 4,624
So for two weeks you get the chance to showcase on TV the best that your city has to offer, the swing park in Silvertown, the bus garage in Bow and Hackney's numerous reverred fried chicken outlets. Then when everyone goes home all that good work gets unstitched.
Champions League final 2008 in Moscow is a great example of a city becoming renowned for ridiculous hotel prices after a short term price hike
#7
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,443
I think it has a worse impact for London. Typically any olympic host city actually damages its own tourism as short sighted profiteering bumps prices up then tourists from pretty much every single country on the planet go home afterwards and tell everyone how expensive it was there.
#8
Ambassador: LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PNA
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 4,624
You might be right. I suppose I was thinking that the through-flow of people in London is very much bigger (and less local) than in Cornwall, and so there'll always be more "new" people visiting London, and also that there are a lot more people who "must" come to London (for one reason or another) than to Cornwall.
#9
#10
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,443
Yes, but in general it remains a popular destination. And if I wanted to visit London for ordinary touristic purposes, or even for business, I wouldn't choose to come around the time of the Olympics if I had no interest in that event - i.e. if I didn't have tickets, basically.
#11
Ambassador: LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PNA
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 4,624
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
the olympics are almost always unique in the hype and then the lack of attendance. for hype and attendance and serious price gouging, there is world cup soccer and nfl playoffs. back in 1980(?) when italy was host country, they even changed their exchange rate.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: Landry's President's Club, Marriott Silver, Awesomeness EXPLT
Posts: 20,358
Italy hosted the world cup in 1990
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,751
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: somewhere north of London, UK
Programs: HH Gold, BA Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 15,245