LONDON, March 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
- Global hotel prices paid by travellers worldwide rose by just 1% in 2015, according to latest Hotel Price Index from Hotels.com
- British globetrotters enjoyed lower prices in over half of the destinations featured in the Index due to the increased strength of the Pound
- Continued strength of the US Dollar saw price rises in all but one of the popular destinations in the US, while Asia proved to be the continent with the best value for money
There was good news for UK travellers coming from the latest Hotel Price Index™ (HPI™) from Hotels.com™ with average prices paid* per night for hotel accommodation up only 1% globally in 2015 as compared to 2014. Specifically, British travellers enjoyed lower average hotel prices in over half (64) of the 100 popular destinations with the strength of the Pound increasing across the globe.
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The global Index sat at 114 for 2015 and is closing the gap on the previous peak of 117 in 2007, the year before the global economic crisis. North America drove the global increase as the only region to see hotel prices rise (up 3%) throughout 2015 with the Index hitting 119, exceeding its pre-recession high of 117 in 2007.
The HPI is a regular report on hotel prices in major destinations across the world, tracking the movement in prices that people actually paid* for their accommodation and providing valuable insight into the reasons behind these changes. The data is drawn from bookings made on the hundreds of thousands of hotels on the Hotels.com websites worldwide.
Isabelle Pinson, VP Marketing for EMEA of the Hotels.com brand, said: "The value of Sterling may have dropped this year but there are still plenty of bargains to be found out there for anyone wanting to stretch their wings beyond these shores. Our HPI data provides consumers with easy access to information on hotel prices paid around the world to enable them to do just that."
Europe proves popular
Many European hotspots from Russia and Estonia in the North, to Mediterranean favourites such as France, Italy and Spain in the South saw a modest decrease in average prices paid. Due to the falling Rouble, Moscow in particular saw a significant decrease, which dropped over a quarter (-27%) from the previous year. In total, Britons paid less in 42 of the 57 most popular European destinations compared to the previous year.
North America continued to increase
It was a different story in the US however, due to the continuing strength of the US Dollar. In fact, it was only New York out of the 13 most popular US destinations that saw a marginal decrease in average prices paid (down 2% to £177). Lake Buena Vista near Orlando, Florida meanwhile saw the most significant rise jumping 21% (£122 in 2014 to £148 in 2015).
Best value destination for British travellers
UK travellers were able to part with less throughout numerous Asian destinations in Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan and Singapore. It was predominantly popular destinations throughout Thailand that saw a decrease in rates, including areas such as Pattaya (-15%), Chiang Mai (-6%), Phuket (-16%), Krabi (-5%) and Koh Samui (-3%).
The Pound also stretched significantly further last year for those visiting popular Australian destinations as room rates paid dropped 7% in Sydney and 6% in Melbourne.
Isabelle Pinson added: "Following a record year for world tourism in 2015, Brits can look forward to another season of globetrotting this year. A little knowledge goes a long way and we hope that our HPI data provides travelers with the inspiration and the knowledge to help make a decision on where to go that little bit easier."
Average prices paid per night by UK travellers in selected European destinations in 2015 as compared to 2014
City Country 2015 2014 % Change
Paris France GBP111 GBP125 -12%
Barcelona Spain GBP97 GBP102 -5%
Rome Italy GBP90 GBP98 -7%
Vienna Austria GBP82 GBP92 -11%
Warsaw Poland GBP60 GBP65 -8%
Krakow Poland GBP57 GBP61 -6%
Riga Estonia GBP52 GBP63 -16%
Average prices paid per night by UK travellers in selected North American destinations in 2015 as compared to 2014
City Country 2015 2014 % Change
Boston USA GBP182 GBP158 15%
New York USA GBP177 GBP180 -2%
San Francisco USA GBP165 GBP156 6%
Los Angeles USA GBP149 GBP134 12%
Lake Buena Vista USA GBP148 GBP122 21%
Chicago USA GBP137 GBP126 9%
Vancouver Canada GBP115 GBP107 7%
Las Vegas USA GBP101 GBP92 9%
Toronto Canada GBP101 GBP103 -1%
Orlando USA GBP92 GBP79 16%
Average prices paid per night by UK travellers in selected Asia Pacific destinations in 2015 as compared to 2014
City Country 2015 2014 % Change
Singapore Singapore GBP121 GBP129 -6%
Hong Kong Hong Kong GBP113 GBP121 -7%
Shanghai China GBP103 GBP90 15%
Tokyo Japan GBP102 GBP110 -7%
Mumbai India GBP96 GBP89 8%
Beijing China GBP86 GBP82 6%
Seoul South Korea GBP82 GBP92 -12%
Bali Indonesia GBP77 GBP84 -9%
Koh Samui Thailand GBP74 GBP76 -3%
Krabi Thailand GBP66 GBP70 -5%
Kuala Lumpur Malaysia GBP61 GBP69 -11%
Bangkok Thailand GBP54 GBP53 2%
Phuket Thailand GBP50 GBP59 -16%
Hanoi Vietnam GBP40 GBP36 11%
Chiang Mai Thailand GBP38 GBP41 -6%
Pattaya Thailand GBP34 GBP39 -15%
Average prices paid per night by UK travellers in selected global destinations in 2015 as compared to 2014
City Country 2015 2014 % Change
Dubai UAE GBP142 GBP151 -6%
Sydney Australia GBP114 GBP123 -7%
Abu Dhabi UAE GBP108 GBP105 3%
Rio de Janeiro Brazil GBP107 GBP150 -28%
Melbourne Australia GBP87 GBP93 -6%
Please visit hpi.hotels.com for more information and to view reports in additional currencies.
*Average prices paid per night inclusive of taxes and fees.
About Hotels.com
Hotels.com L.P. operates Hotels.com, a leading online accommodation booking website with hundreds of thousands of properties ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favorites and bed & breakfasts, together with all the information needed to book the perfect stay.
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SOURCE Hotels.com
