11 August 2008

Beijing hotel rates slump in Olympics run-in

Hotel rates in Olympics host city Beijing have more than halved in the run-in to the start of the games, according to accommodation website Hotels.com

Hoteliers in the Chinese capital have been slashing the rates for their rooms in a bid to bring in more customers.

While the average price of a room rose to Ã&#pound;397 for those booking in April, the average price for the same room booked last month was just Ã&#pound;144, Hotels.com reported.

The fall in prices has come amid ââ¬Åâœfrenziedââ¬~ competition among hotels in Beijing.  In recent months, the Ritz Carlton Beijing Downtown and the JW Marriott Hotel Beijing opened for business.

But the drop in room prices is also reflecting a drop in demand. 

Data recently published on the website of the Beijing Tourism Administration showed just 299,000 overseas tourists visited the city in June, compared to 385,000 in April.  Municipal authorities say they expect between 400,000 and 450,000 foreign visitors in August ââ¬' the month of the Olympics - compared to 420,000 in August last year.

A Hotels.com spokeswomen said: ââ¬ÅâœThis drop in average prices paid for rooms in Beijing means that it is a great time for last minute trips to China.  People booking now can expect some real bargains on sites like ours as hoteliers compete to fill their rooms.ââ¬~

Average prices paid by travelers for stays in Beijing in August, by the month in which the room was booked:

by Phil Davies 

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• "... last minute trips to China"?
  
  

  The Hotels.com spokeswoman who said: "This drop in average prices paid for rooms in Beijing means that it is a great time for last minute trips to China" obviously knows little about the logistics of obtaining a Chinese visa at any time but even more particularly now with the new restrictions. Hopefully, following the conclusion of the Olympics, notwithstanding recent civil disturbances, visa processing will return to normal.

  By Jon Hewson, Wednesday, August 13, 2008