Tsunami hits Japan hotel prices

Japan hoteliers have experienced a hit from the recent quake and tsunami, with major cities witnessing a double-digit drop in average hotel prices for the first six months of the year.

Feeling the brunt of natural disasters, Japan’s cities Hiroshima and Kyoto witnessed double digit price falls of 38 percent, 33 percent in average rates.

Despite experiencing similar impacts, New Zealand’s Wellington and Auckland have experienced an adverse effect, welcoming a 15 percent and three percent growth for the same period.

According to Hotels.com, Australian hotels also welcomed growth, with the country achieving three times the global average three percent hotel price growth with a nine percent increase over the period.

Melbourne and Sydney were among the top ten cities for the highest hotel prices, with a 11 percent and 10 percent rise on last year.

While Brisbane and the Gold Coast managed to withstand the natural disasters with a 27 percent and 17 percent rise in hotels costs, Canberra and Cairns experienced the only drop around Australia with eight percent and 10 percent.

Hotels.com Asia Pacific managing director Johan Svanstrom said the results were pushed by the economy growth, a strong MICE market and the increasing number of Asia-based leisure travellers.

“The strength of the in-bound Asian market was offset by a decline in travellers from Europe and the US, caused by the rising cost of long-haul flights due to oil price inflation, and the decline in value of their currencies against the Aussie dollar,” Mr Svanstrom explained.

Topping the list in growth for the first six month was Stockholm with a 17 percent rise to $210 per room per night, followed by Wellington, Honolulu, Melbourne and Buenos Aires with 15 percent, 13 percent and 11 percent.

While other cities experiencing a drop in prices for the first six months included, New Delhi with a 38 percent fall, Cape Town experience a 24 percent decline and Shanghai witnessed a 23 percent dip.

Source - etravelblackboardasia