North American Hotels Enjoy a 5 Percent Uptick in Room Rates in 2011
Hotels.com has released its biannual Hotel Price Index (HPI), reporting on the most popular travel destinations and the average price paid by travelers while visiting those destinations.
The HPI is a regular survey of hotel prices in major city destinations across the world, based on hotels.com bookings. Prices reported are those actually paid by customers (rather than advertised rates) during the calendar year of 2011. On a global scale, hotel prices increased by four percent on average in 2011 over 2010, while average prices in North America increased 5 percent year-over-year, continuing the process of steady recovery from the lows of 2008. Entering the third consecutive year of moderate price rises for guests, the global average price is still lower than it was in 2005, such was the depth of the financial crash-inspired trough.
Based on the HPI data, hotels.com identified the 10 international cities where a five-star hotel would cost the least. In 2011, Warsaw, Poland, Marrakech, Morocco and Cairo, Egypt offered the highest rated hotels for the lowest prices, with five-star properties in these cities selling at an average daily rate of less than $190.
As always, price changes year-over-year were influenced by global events. Average five-star room rates in Cairo dropped six percent between 2010 and 2011, undoubtedly a result of the Arab Spring revolution and its effect on tourism. Another significant price change occurred in Cape Town, South Africa, site of the 2010 World Cup. Between 2010 and 2011, hotel prices deflated in Cape Town after World Cup tourism had ended, and five-star room rates dropped 24 percent year-over-year. New cities rounding out the top 10 include Pisa, Italy and Brussels, Belgium, indicating a possible new trend of affordability for European destinations.
Affordable Luxury: International Five-Star Room Rates
|
City
|
Country
|
Star Rating
|
2010 Average Daily Rate
|
2011 Average Daily Rate Rate
|
YoY ADR
|
|
Warsaw
|
Poland
|
5
|
$115
|
$130
|
13%
|
|
Marrakech
|
Morocco
|
5
|
$164
|
$168
|
3%
|
|
Cairo
|
Egypt
|
5
|
$200
|
$189
|
(6%)
|
|
Budapest
|
Hungary
|
5
|
$168
|
$191
|
13%
|
|
Pisa
|
Italy
|
5
|
$189
|
$193
|
2%
|
|
Lisbon
|
Portugal
|
5
|
$169
|
$195
|
15%
|
|
Brussels
|
Belgium
|
5
|
$172
|
$196
|
14%
|
|
Berlin
|
Germany
|
5
|
$190
|
$198
|
4%
|
|
Beijing
|
China
|
5
|
$190
|
$203
|
7%
|
Most and Least Expensive Destinations in the United States
The demand for travel to New York City, Honolulu, Boston and Miami would naturally drive prices a little higher hence marking them as the most expensive U.S. cities to visit. Travelers will continue to flock to these cities in droves, yet there are still deals to be found. For travelers seeking a low budget, but charming experience, the south is home to the four most affordable destinations.
|
Ranking
|
Top Ten Most Expensive U.S. cities
|
2010 Average
Daily Rate
|
2011 Average
Daily Rate
|
YoY ADR
|
|
1.
|
New York City, NY
|
$194
|
$204
|
5%
|
|
2.
|
Honolulu, Hawaii
|
$159
|
$175
|
10%
|
|
3.
|
Boston, Mass.
|
$155
|
$165
|
6%
|
|
4.
|
Miami, Fla.
|
$139
|
$153
|
10%
|
|
5.
|
Santa Barbara/Santa Maria/San Luis Obispo, Calif.
|
$143
|
$147
|
3%
|
|
6.
|
New Orleans, La.
|
$132
|
$146
|
11%
|
|
7.
|
San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, Calif.
|
$126
|
$143
|
13%
|
|
8.
|
Washington D.C.
|
$140
|
$142
|
1%
|
|
9.
|
Panama City, Fla.
|
$132
|
$139
|
5%
|
|
10.
|
Chicago, Ill.
|
$134
|
$139
|
3%
|
|
Ranking
|
Top Ten Least Expensive U.S. cities
|
2010 Average
Daily Rate
|
2011 Average
Daily Rate
|
YoY ADR
|
|
1.
|
Columbia, S.C.
|
$64
|
$65
|
2%
|
|
2.
|
Macon, Ga.
|
$72
|
$72
|
0%
|
|
3.
|
Albany, Ga.
|
$75
|
$76
|
0%
|
|
4.
|
Dothan, Ala.
|
$75
|
$76
|
1%
|
|
5.
|
Lima, Ohio
|
$74
|
$78
|
5%
|
|
6.
|
Bakersfield, Calf.
|
$80
|
$78
|
-2%
|
|
7.
|
Ottumwa – Kirksville, Mo.
|
$75
|
$79
|
4%
|
|
8.
|
Glendive, Mont.
|
$65
|
$79
|
21%
|
|
9.
|
Montgomery (Selma), Ala.
|
$77
|
$79
|
4%
|
|
10.
|
Parkersburg, W. Va.
|
$80
|
$80
|
1%
|
For the full report, featuring infographics, detailed maps, colorful photos and a city-by-city breakdown, visit: www.hotel-price-index.com.