Paris hotel operators cut prices in last-ditch attempt to lure Olympics travelers
Adds traveler quote in paragraph 4 and data from KAYAK in 5
By Doyinsola Oladipo
NEW YORK, July 30 (Reuters) -With the Olympics underway in Paris, hotel operators made a final push to lure last-minute travelers, lowering prices and dropping minimum stay requirements after some people balked at what they saw as price-gouging prior to the games.
The Paris Tourist office said Monday that average hotel prices during the games have fallen to 258 euros per night - down from 342 euros earlier in the summer, which had represented a 70% increase from the average 202 euro price in July 2023.
Travel agents say visitors may clinch discounts of between 10% and 70% as operators offer deals after demand for the Games fell below expectations due to high prices and security concerns.
"Paris is not at all busy. There is space and hotel prices are about 20% cheaper," said Denise Alevy, a travel agent who booked a last-minute trip to the city. "I found many hotels at very good prices."
Booking Holdings'BKNG.O metasearch engine KAYAK said hotel prices in the city decreased 16% in July compared to June. Hotel Planner said it is seeing a drop of as much as 66% in average hotel prices for four-star hotels in Paris through early August.
"The hospitality industry in France and worldwide has undoubtedly been taught a lesson against price-gouging when looking to capitalize on major events," said Tim Hentschel, CEO of Hotel Planner, a travel booking website.
In July, France-based hotel operator Accor ACCP.PA revised its expected gains from the Olympics, having previously forecast a 2% increase in revenue per available room in France during the Games.
"That's no longer the case," Accor Chief Executive Sebastien Bazin said on an earnings call. However, he said the company is doing well in terms of pricing and occupancy which is over 80% across Accor hotels during the Games.
Some hotels have dropped restrictions, including arrival dates and length of stay requirements, to attract last-minute travelers, according to travel agents.
"The rules have dropped but the prices not so much," said Neil Kurman of Protravel International travel agent, a luxury travel agency. Five-star hotels like Le Royal Monceau Raffles are still charging close to 3,000 euros per night during the games, he said.
Accor may see a 0.5% uptick in room revenue if travelers flock to the city in the months following the Olympics, Accor's Bazin said, but the company's outlook remains conservative.
Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by David Gaffen, David Holmes and Ros Russell
Mga Kaugnay na Asset
Pinakabagong Balita
Disclaimer: Ang mga kabilang sa XM Group ay nagbibigay lang ng serbisyo sa pagpapatupad at pag-access sa aming Online Trading Facility, kung saan pinapahintulutan nito ang pagtingin at/o paggamit sa nilalaman na makikita sa website o sa pamamagitan nito, at walang layuning palitan o palawigin ito, at hindi din ito papalitan o papalawigin. Ang naturang pag-access at paggamit ay palaging alinsunod sa: (i) Mga Tuntunin at Kundisyon; (ii) Mga Babala sa Risk; at (iii) Kabuuang Disclaimer. Kaya naman ang naturang nilalaman ay ituturing na pangkalahatang impormasyon lamang. Mangyaring isaalang-alang na ang mga nilalaman ng aming Online Trading Facility ay hindi paglikom, o alok, para magsagawa ng anumang transaksyon sa mga pinansyal na market. Ang pag-trade sa alinmang pinansyal na market ay nagtataglay ng mataas na lebel ng risk sa iyong kapital.
Lahat ng materyales na nakalathala sa aming Online Trading Facility ay nakalaan para sa layuning edukasyonal/pang-impormasyon lamang at hindi naglalaman – at hindi dapat ituring bilang naglalaman – ng payo at rekomendasyon na pangpinansyal, tungkol sa buwis sa pag-i-invest, o pang-trade, o tala ng aming presyo sa pag-trade, o alok para sa, o paglikom ng, transaksyon sa alinmang pinansyal na instrument o hindi ginustong pinansyal na promosyon.
Sa anumang nilalaman na galing sa ikatlong partido, pati na ang mga nilalaman na inihanda ng XM, ang mga naturang opinyon, balita, pananaliksik, pag-analisa, presyo, ibang impormasyon o link sa ibang mga site na makikita sa website na ito ay ibibigay tulad ng nandoon, bilang pangkalahatang komentaryo sa market at hindi ito nagtataglay ng payo sa pag-i-invest. Kung ang alinmang nilalaman nito ay itinuring bilang pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, kailangan mong isaalang-alang at tanggapin na hindi ito inilaan at inihanda alinsunod sa mga legal na pangangailangan na idinisenyo para maisulong ang pagsasarili ng pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, at dahil dito ituturing ito na komunikasyon sa marketing sa ilalim ng mga kaugnay na batas at regulasyon. Mangyaring siguruhin na nabasa at naintindihan mo ang aming Notipikasyon sa Hindi Independyenteng Pananaliksik sa Pag-i-invest at Babala sa Risk na may kinalaman sa impormasyong nakalagay sa itaas, na maa-access dito.
