Strength of Sterling Across The Globe In 2015 Provides Great Value Hotels for UK Travellers

LONDON, March 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

• Global hotel prices paid by travellers worldwide rose by just 1% in 2015, according to latest Hotel Price Index from Hotels.com
• British globetrotters enjoyed lower prices in over half of the destinations featured in the Index due to the increased strength of the Pound
• Continued strength of the US Dollar saw price rises in all but one of the popular destinations in the US, while Asia proved to be the continent with the best value for money

There was good news for UK travellers coming from the latest Hotel Price Index™ (HPI™) from Hotels.com™ with average prices paid* per night for hotel accommodation up only 1% globally in 2015 as compared to 2014. Specifically, British travellers enjoyed lower average hotel prices in over half (64) of the 100 popular destinations with the strength of the Pound increasing across the globe.

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The global Index sat at 114 for 2015 and is closing the gap on the previous peak of 117 in 2007, the year before the global economic crisis. North America drove the global increase as the only region to see hotel prices rise (up 3%) throughout 2015 with the Index hitting 119, exceeding its pre-recession high of 117 in 2007.

The HPI is a regular report on hotel prices in major destinations across the world, tracking the movement in prices that people actually paid* for their accommodation and providing valuable insight into the reasons behind these changes. The data is drawn from bookings made on the hundreds of thousands of hotels on the Hotels.com websites worldwide.

Isabelle Pinson, VP Marketing for EMEA of the Hotels.com brand, said: "The value of Sterling may have dropped this year but there are still plenty of bargains to be found out there for anyone wanting to stretch their wings beyond these shores. Our HPI data provides consumers with easy access to information on hotel prices paid around the world to enable them to do just that."

Europe proves popular 

Many European hotspots from Russia and Estonia in the North, to Mediterranean favourites such as France, Italy and Spain in the South saw a modest decrease in average prices paid. Due to the falling Rouble, Moscow in particular saw a significant decrease, which dropped over a quarter (-27%) from the previous year. In total, Britons paid less in 42 of the 57 most popular European destinations compared to the previous year.

North America continued to increase 

It was a different story in the US however, due to the continuing strength of the US Dollar. In fact, it was only New York out of the 13 most popular US destinations that saw a marginal decrease in average prices paid (down 2% to £177). Lake Buena Vista near Orlando, Florida meanwhile saw the most significant rise jumping 21% (£122 in 2014 to £148 in 2015).

Best value destination for British travellers 

UK travellers were able to part with less throughout numerous Asian destinations in Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan and Singapore. It was predominantly popular destinations throughout Thailand that saw a decrease in rates, including areas such as Pattaya (-15%), Chiang Mai (-6%), Phuket (-16%), Krabi (-5%) and Koh Samui (-3%).

The Pound also stretched significantly further last year for those visiting popular Australian destinations as room rates paid dropped 7% in Sydney and 6% in Melbourne.

Isabelle Pinson added: "Following a record year for world tourism in 2015, Brits can look forward to another season of globetrotting this year. A little knowledge goes a long way and we hope that our HPI data provides travelers with the inspiration and the knowledge to help make a decision on where to go that little bit easier."

Average prices paid per night by UK travellers in selected European destinations in 2015 as compared to 2014 

   
    City           Country         2015     2014    % Change
    Paris          France         GBP111  GBP125     -12%
    Barcelona      Spain           GBP97  GBP102      -5%
    Rome           Italy           GBP90   GBP98      -7%
    Vienna         Austria         GBP82   GBP92     -11%
    Warsaw         Poland          GBP60   GBP65      -8%
    Krakow         Poland          GBP57   GBP61      -6%
    Riga           Estonia         GBP52   GBP63     -16%

Average prices paid per night by UK travellers in selected North American destinations in 2015 as compared to 2014 

   
    City             Country         2015     2014   % Change
    Boston           USA            GBP182   GBP158    15%
    New York         USA            GBP177   GBP180    -2%
    San Francisco    USA            GBP165   GBP156     6%
    Los Angeles      USA            GBP149   GBP134    12%
    Lake Buena Vista USA            GBP148   GBP122    21%
    Chicago          USA            GBP137   GBP126     9%
    Vancouver        Canada         GBP115   GBP107     7%
    Las Vegas        USA            GBP101    GBP92     9%
    Toronto          Canada         GBP101   GBP103    -1%
    Orlando          USA             GBP92    GBP79    16%

Average prices paid per night by UK travellers in selected Asia Pacific destinations in 2015 as compared to 2014 

   
    City           Country         2015     2014   % Change
    Singapore      Singapore      GBP121  GBP129      -6%
    Hong Kong      Hong Kong      GBP113  GBP121      -7%
    Shanghai       China          GBP103   GBP90      15%
    Tokyo          Japan          GBP102  GBP110      -7%
    Mumbai         India           GBP96   GBP89       8%
    Beijing        China           GBP86   GBP82       6%
    Seoul          South Korea     GBP82   GBP92     -12%
    Bali           Indonesia       GBP77   GBP84      -9%
    Koh Samui      Thailand        GBP74   GBP76      -3%
    Krabi          Thailand        GBP66   GBP70      -5%
    Kuala Lumpur   Malaysia        GBP61   GBP69     -11%
    Bangkok        Thailand        GBP54   GBP53       2%
    Phuket         Thailand        GBP50   GBP59     -16%
    Hanoi          Vietnam         GBP40   GBP36      11%
    Chiang Mai     Thailand        GBP38   GBP41      -6%
    Pattaya        Thailand        GBP34   GBP39     -15%

Average prices paid per night by UK travellers in selected global destinations in 2015 as compared to 2014 

   
    City           Country         2015     2014   % Change
    Dubai          UAE            GBP142   GBP151     -6%
    Sydney         Australia      GBP114   GBP123     -7%
    Abu Dhabi      UAE            GBP108   GBP105      3%
    Rio de Janeiro Brazil         GBP107   GBP150    -28%
    Melbourne      Australia       GBP87    GBP93     -6%

Please visit hpi.hotels.com for more information and to view reports in additional currencies.

*Average prices paid per night inclusive of taxes and fees.

About Hotels.com 

Hotels.com L.P. operates Hotels.com, a leading online accommodation booking website with hundreds of thousands of properties ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favorites and bed & breakfasts, together with all the information needed to book the perfect stay.

© 2015 Hotels.com, LP. Hotels.com, The Obvious Choice, Hotel Price Index, HPI, and the Hotels.com logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotels.com, LP in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. 

    
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