The majority of Europe’s capitals are offering much higher rates than in February, as per the findings of the trivago Hotel Price Index (tHPI) prepared each month by the hotel price comparison website www.trivago.co.uk.

Published: 23 Mar 2011

The majority of Europe’s capitals are offering much higher rates than in February, as per the findings of the trivago Hotel Price Index (tHPI) prepared each month by the hotel price comparison website www.trivago.co.uk.

Overnight accommodation prices rose in 43 of Europe’s 50 most popular travel destinations, reaching as high as 53 percent in some cities. In the UK, however, prices remained steady in comparison to last month.

Average hotel prices have risen significantly in the majority of Europe’s capitals, climbing 10 percent on average in comparison to February 2011.

Findings:

• Turkey and Austria experienced the most significant changes, with 23 percent and 22 percent increases respectively.
• They are followed by Italy (up 14 percent), the Netherlands (12 percent), Cyprus (12 percent), Belgium (10 percent), and Switzerland (9 percent).
• In comparison, the UK average increased by a modest four percent. Only four countries saw their average rate fall this month: Sweden (-2 percent), Bulgaria (-3 percent), Denmark (-3 percent) and Russia (-4 percent).

Europe: Hotel rates climb rapidly

Prices rose across the vast majority of Europe this month, with 43 of the tHPI’s 50 cities showing higher prices than in February.

Nine European destinations registered rate hikes of between 20 and 35 percent, and 21 cities saw prices climb at least 10 percent.

The highest increase in hotel rates in March was in the Italian city of Bologna, where prices climbed 53 percent to £117.

In Venice, where the carnival attracts many visitors each year, hoteliers are charging an average of £142 per night – a 28 percent climb from February’s figures. Vienna (£117, +34 percent), Istanbul (£95, +31 percent), Rome (£109, +25 percent), Seville (£79, +20 percent) and Brussels (£115, +16 percent) also saw rapid rate growth. The only city to experience any noticeable decline in prices was Nuremburg in Germany, which fell 15 percent to £98 a night. The most expensive city this month is Geneva, at £235 per night (up 21 percent), followed by Oslo (£157, up 5 percent), London (£150, up 7 percent), Milan (£143, up 13 percent) and Venice.

In sharp contrast to the soaring prices in the rest of Europe, hotel rates in the UK have remained relatively steady this month. Overnight rates fell one percent in Liverpool (£89) and Newcastle (£94), remained unchanged in Cardiff (£94) and Blackpool (£63), and rose one percent in Glasgow (£80). Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield also experienced minor price climbs of three to four percent. The highest increase in rates was to be found in London, which rose seven percent to an average of £150. Conversely, hotel costs decreased six percent in Birmingham (£80) and Edinburgh (£102).