The "Hotel Price Radar" study published on Thursday by HRS compares year-on-year price trends for overnight stays in fifty major cities in France, Europe and the rest of the world. The report shows an overall increase in rates on an international scale: "Outside Europe, prices rose everywhere without exception in the second quarter of 2012 compared to the same period the previous year", states the report, which explains: "growing demand for business travel and the weakness of the euro have resulted in a significant increase in the price of hotel accommodation for many destinations". The Asian market recorded the most significant increases: Tokyo saw the biggest increase (+49% to 130 euros), along with Seoul (+44% to 146 euros), while Beijing (+29% to 68 euros) and Hong Kong (+28% to 140 euros) experienced the same dynamic. The Americas zone has not been spared: Rio (+37% to €178), in 2th the most expensive cities in the HRS rankings, behind New York (+4.5 % at €178).
France is the exception to this upward trend. "In France, the trend observed in the second quarter of 2012 confirms that of the first quarter, with less sustained increases and falls in average prices in half of the cities analysed," says the Hotel Price Radar. While Paris (+4.3 % to €139), Nice (+0.6 % to €115), Nantes (+7.8 % to €88) and Grenoble all posted rate increases (+3.6 % to €95), prices fell in several major cities. This is particularly the case in Toulouse (down 2.6 % to €90), Marseille (down 5.9 % to €96) and above all Lille (down 7 % to €97). "Generally speaking, we can see that the Budget segment is experiencing the strongest fare growth," analyses HRS. "Is this a sign that companies are adopting new travel guidelines with a view to making greater savings? The calendar for the second quarter, with the elections and the long weekends in May, can undoubtedly explain the decline in cities with more 'corporate' customers, such as Lille and Lyon", adds the "Hotel Price Radar" report.
