The Hotel Price Index

The Hotel Price Index
Review of global hotel prices: January - December 2012

INTRODUCTION
The Hotels.com Hotel Price
Index (HPI ® ) is a regular
survey of hotel prices in
major destinations across
the world. The HPI is based
on bookings made on
Hotels.com and prices
shown are those actually
paid by customers per
room per night, rather than
advertised rates.
Now in its ninth year, the
HPI is respected as the
definitive report on hotel
prices paid around the
world and is increasingly
used as a reference tool
by the media, hoteliers,
financial analysts,
investors, tourism bodies
and academics.
The HPI tracks the real
prices paid per room
per night by Hotels.com
customers around the
world, using a weighted
average based on the
number of rooms sold
in each of the markets
in which Hotels.com
operates.
The international scale of
Hotels.com, in terms of
the number of customers,
properties and destinations
covered, makes the Hotel
Price Index one of the
most comprehensive
benchmarks available. It
incorporates both chain
and independent hotels,
as well as options such
as self-catering and bed &
breakfast properties.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
This edition looks at the full
year 2012, comparing the
results with 2011. More than
155,000 properties around
the world make up the
sample set of hotels from
which prices are taken of
the almost 200,000 hotels
on offer on the site.

FOREWORD
Welcome to the latest
edition of the
Hotels.com Hotel Price
Index, our review of global
hotel prices for the full year
2012.
The headline must be one
of continuing recovery.
Over the year, guests
around the world paid
3% more for their hotel
rooms than in 2011. In
fact, several major regions
grew faster than this, but
the Eurozone’s problems
combined to pull down the
global average and slow
growth in the second half
of the year. This means
that, whilst we’re reporting
the third consecutive year
of price increases, the
average price of a hotel
room has only risen to
where it was back in 2005.
Leaders of the pack
It was still a tough year for
many but three regions
drew away from the rest,
building on increasing
business travel and higher
consumer spending. The
Caribbean saw a 6% rise,
North America had one of
its best results in recent
years growing at 5% and
the Pacific gained 4%,
all outpacing the global
figure. Asia added 2%, Latin
America 1% and the Europe
and Middle East region
registered a slight fall.
Europe trailing
Europe is lagging behind as
domestic markets stutter.
The Eurozone crisis not
only impacted prices in
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
its own territory but had
a knock-on effect across
the region as financial
insecurity dampened the
propensity to travel. With
a resurgence of economic
prosperity unlikely in the
immediate future, hotels
have to adapt to new
market conditions, to reach
out to those travellers
who are still on the move,
particularly from China
and Russia. My advice to
consumers? Start packing
for that European trip. It
is unlikely that prices will
continue to fall at this rate
and there are some great
deals around now just
waiting to be snapped up.
The London effect
Anyone who was in
London in the summer
of 2012 would have
been caught up in the
atmosphere of excitement
and optimism that
permeated the city during
the Diamond Jubilee
celebrations and the
Olympic and Paralympic
Games. Overall hotel

occupancy was healthy
but did not reach the
heady heights predicted,
with many travellers
avoiding the higher prices
initially charged during
the Olympic period. The
average cost of a room
in the capital certainly fell
as the event approached
and, for the rest of the year,
hotels lowered their prices
further to drive demand.
London has been left
with a legacy of much
improved stock with new
hotel openings and many
other rooms refurbished
and it remains one of the
best value global cities
across all star ratings. The
unprecedented worldwide
exposure that its time in
the spotlight brought will
certainly encourage visitors
going forward, particularly
with the prospect of the
royal birth this summer.
It will be interesting to see
what lessons were learned
in London for hotel pricing
strategy in Rio de Janeiro
as the city prepares to
host two major sporting
events with the 2014 World
Cup and the 2016 Olympic
Games.
Build it and they will
come
International tourism is
expected to climb again
in 2013*. Much of the focus
of the hospitality industry
is now moving east,
where the rate of increase
is the highest and new
infrastructure is helping
to drive travel patterns.
The Asia/Pacific region
added twice as many new
rooms as Europe in 2012,
with expansion in both the
upmarket and economy
sectors, and will account
for 40% of the world’s new
builds in 2013**. China has
plans to build 70 new
airports in the next few
years and to expand its
100 existing airports***. New
airlines have come onto
the scene offering lower
prices, fuelling the desire to
travel.
At Hotels.com, we are
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
looking forward to 2013. It is
a landmark time for us,
particularly in Europe. It
was ten years ago that we
took the strategic step in
expanding our company by
launching localised
websites in 13 European
countries as well as
Australia and Canada. Over
the last decade, we have
expanded further into
Europe as well as Latin
America, Asia, the Pacific
and Africa and now have
more than 85 localised
sites around the world.
The scope of our network
means that the data and
consumer insight gathered
for this report is substantial
and reliable. What’s up,
what’s down, what’s
blooming or fading, the
answer is here.
Thanks for reading and
happy travelling.
David Roche
President
Global Lodging Group
Expedia, Inc.
* UNWTO World Tourism Barometer
** Smith Travel Research
*** China CAA Chief Li Jiaxing, IATA
AGM, June 2012

The HPI report focuses on
two main sources of data:
The first section (Chapter 1)
shows the global Hotel
Price Index for 2012,
comparing it with previous
years.
The Index is compiled from
all relevant transactions
on Hotels.com during
this period, weighted to
reflect the size of each
market. By representing
hotel price movements
in an index, Hotels.com
can illustrate the actual
price movements as
paid by consumers,
without foreign exchange
fluctuations distorting the
picture.
The Index was started in
2004 at 100 and includes
all bookings across all star
ratings from 1- to 5-star.
The second section
(Chapters 2-8) shows hotel
prices across the world per
room per night as paid by
travellers from the UK in
2012 compared with 2011.
This shows the changes
in real prices paid by UK
consumers, reflecting both
movements in exchange
rates and hotel pricing.
In Chapter 4, figures are
compiled from global
bookings in all currencies.
Prices are rounded to the
nearest Pound Sterling and
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
percentage figures to the
nearest percentage point.
Chapter 9 covers the most
popular destinations within
the UK for overseas visitors
and overseas for UK
travellers in 2012.
The final chapter focuses
on some additional, more
light-hearted travel facts
identified by Hotels.com.
Reports are also available
in other currencies. Please
contact press@hotels.co.uk.
Follow the discussions on
Twitter at #HotelExperts.

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
FOREWORD
1. GLOBAL PRICE CHANGES
2. PRICE CHANGES IN GLOBAL CITY DESTINATIONS
GLOBAL HOTEL PRICE CHANGES 2012 -v- 2011
3. PRICE CHANGES BY COUNTRY
GLOBAL HOTEL PRICE CHANGES BY COUNTRY 2012 -v- 2011
4. FOCUS ON THE UK
UK HOTEL PRICE CHANGES 2012 -v- 2011
5. PRICES PAID AT HOME AND AWAY
6. WHERE TO STAY FOR £100 A NIGHT
7. AVERAGE ROOM PRICES BY STAR RATING
8. LUXURY FOR LESS
9. TRAVEL HABITS
Top overseas destinations for UK travellers
Top UK destinations for visitors from overseas
10. TRAVEL TALK
Best cities for nightlife
Best taxis around the world
Home-from-Hotel
HOTELS.COM 2012 HIGHLIGHTS
ABOUT HOTELS.COM
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
1
12
22
24
29
31
34
37
39
41
44
46
48
52
54
55

1
Index Points
120
110
100
90
GLOBAL PRICE
CHANGES
The average price of a
hotel room around the
world rose by 3% during
2012 compared with the
previous year, having
reached 107, just seven
points higher than when
H1 2004
H2 2004
H1 2005
H2 2005
H1 2006
the Index was launched in
2004. The rate of increase
has slowed when judged
against the 4% rise in 2011.
This highlights the fact
that hotel prices remained
great value for travellers
throughout the year as the
global Index for 2012 was
still ten points behind its
Figure 1 HPI half-yearly breakdown from H1 2004 to H2 2012 globally
H2 2006
H1 2007
H2 2007
H1 2008
H2 2008
H1 2009
2007 peak of 117 and only
just ahead of its 2005 level
of 106.
Prices rose in all regions
for the year, apart from
Europe and the Middle East
where there was a slight
fall. There were particularly
strong showings in the
Caribbean, North America
H2 2009
H1 2010
H2 2010
H1 2011
H2 2011
H1 2012
H2 2012

and the Pacific. More
in-depth analysis into what
caused these changes
and how they influenced
individual cities and
countries can be found
below and in subsequent
chapters.
Although not directly
comparable, the relative
stability of global hotel
prices can also be seen in
a less technical fashion by
comparing the fluctuation
of the HPI with other global
commodities such as gold,
oil and coffee in an index.
Swings there have been
considerably more volatile
and prices have risen
substantially, reinforcing
Figure 2 Comparing the HPI with other global prices
HPI Gold Oil Coffee
the great value that hotel
prices still represent. At the
end of 2012, the index for
gold, for instance, was four
times higher than in 2004,
with oil three times and
coffee more than double.
,
www.eia.gov

Johan Svanström
Vice President
Hotels.com APAC
Overall the Asian continent
saw a price rise of 2%
compared to 2011, backed
up by a generally positive
travel economic and
travel industry trend. The
overall rates however
were still some way off
from its peak level in 2007,
meaning travellers could
find good value in several
destinations.
Behind the average
number in 2012 is quite a
roster of events moving
prices up and down across
the region. Examples
include downward
pressure on rates in India,
due to a precipitous fall of
the Rupee, travel demand
shifts due to the politically
sensitive situation around
the islands in the East
China Sea, and price
bounce-backs when
compared against the
2011 tsunami and nuclear
disaster in Japan and
flooding in Thailand. Big
business and tourism
destinations like Singapore
and Hong Kong saw
continued great demand
but rate rises were more
moderate because of the
25 new hotel openings in
Hong Kong, and further
room openings in the
Singapore mega hotels.
The mineral and natural
resources boom in
Australia continued to drive
strong city hotel rates, but
made it somewhat difficult
for leisure destinations
dependent on inbound
demand. China overtook
the UK to become the
second largest inbound
source market, a trend
that is only expected to
continue.
Looking forward, two
mega trends are affecting
the region positively in 2013
and beyond. The continued
rise of the Chinese
outbound travellers, both
the amount of them and
the amount of money
they spend, as well as the
rapid build-up of the low
cost and alternative carrier
market in North East Asia.
Both trends invariably
mean more travellers,
and will drive hotel
industry development and
investment for years to
come.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
3

Figure 3 HPI half-yearly breakdown APAC from H1 2004 to H2 2012
Index Points
140
130
120
110
H1 2004
H2 2004
H1 2005
H2 2005
H1 2006
Strong performance in
the Pacific
Average hotel prices in
the Pacific region, which
includes Australia, New
Zealand and the islands
of the South Pacific,
rose another 4% during
2012, driven primarily by
increases in its main
market of Australia. This
was higher than the
global rise but the speed
of growth has slowed
when compared with the
two previous years which
registered an 11% rise in
H2 2006
H1 2007
H2 2007
H1 2008
H2 2008
H1 2009
2010 and 8% in 2011.
The Pacific HPI for 2012
reached 123, tying in
second place with Latin
America, another region
that has seen significant
movement in its hotel
rates over recent years.
The Pacific HPI is now not
far behind its 2007 peak of
127.
Asia on the rise
H2 2009
Hotel prices in Asia rose
2% during the year, not
H1 2010
H2 2010
H1 2011
H2 2011
H1 2012
H2 2012
Asia
keeping track with the
global rise but a more
robust result than in 2011
when prices fell by 2%
following the natural and
nuclear disasters in Japan
which deterred travel both
within and to the region.
The Asia HPI stood at
109 for 2012 and has the
farthest ground to make
up on its 2007 peak of 131.
In fact, it is still behind its
2005 level of 110, although
individual cities have
performed well.
Pacific
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
4

Javier Escobedo
Vice President
Hotels.com LatAm
Latin America has
witnessed a sustained
period of growth in prices
paid by customers over
the past few years, driven
primarily by the booming
economies in the two
key markets of Brazil and
Mexico. The slowdown
now could be explained
by two trends: a more
stable region in terms of
economic and political
scenarios and strong
domestic activity that has
led to a more competitive
scenario with plenty of
promotions and discounts
as hotels worked to attract
local visitors.
Brazil, a giant and strategic
player for Latin America,
has moved away from
a scenario of monetary
exchange instability with
fewer abrupt oscillations
in its exchange rate, thus
setting the right conditions
for a more secure market.
Mexico has also witnessed
a robust twelve months
for the travel industry
and has coped positively
with the challenges of
an election year. The
country has also benefited
from enhancements in
local infrastructure that
helped develop less
explored regions. Travel to
international destinations,
in particular the United
States, has remained
strong for the region, and
Europe has emerged as
another favourite for Latin
Americans, particularly
with the lower prices there
as a result of the economic
downturn.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
5

Figure 4 HPI half-yearly breakdown LatAm and Caribbean from H1 2004 to H2 2012
Index Points
140
130
120
110
H1 2004
H2 2004
H1 2005
H2 2005
H1 2006
Latin American rise
slowed
H2 2006
Average hotel prices in
Latin America rose by just
1% overall during 2012, a
smaller rise than the 4%
recorded in the two
previous years and also
behind the global increase.
The 2012 HPI for Latin
America reached 123,
driven primarily by the
booming economy in its
largest market, Brazil, and
tying in second place with
the Pacific which has also
H1 2007
H2 2007
H1 2008
H2 2008
H1 2009
H2 2009
seen considerable growth
over the past few years.
The 2012 figure of 123 was
one of the closest of all the
regions to its 2007 peak of
125 and equalled its 2006
level, although the HPI
shows that rates in Latin
America were less affected
by the global economic
slowdown than other parts
of the world.
Highest rises in the
Caribbean
The Caribbean had a
strong year, registering
H1 2010
H2 2010
H1 2011
H2 2011
H1 2012
H2 2012
Caribbean
LatAm
the highest percentage
increase of all the regions
at 6% and also the highest
HPI at 125.
This is just behind its
2006 rate of 127 and still
six points adrift of its 2007
peak of 131.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
6

Victor Owens
Vice President
Hotels.com North
America
The American travel
industry as a whole faced
a destructive calamity,
Hurricane Sandy, in
October 2012. The impact
was heavily felt on the
east coast and the
Caribbean region with
newspapers reporting
9,000 flights cancelled, $30
billion in property damage
and 7.5 million power
outages.
With outstanding
assistance from first
responders and clean-up
crews, much of the
damage has been repaired.
Turning to industry
matters, the North
American HPI is seeing
some light for hoteliers
with a 5% increase in hotel
prices last year.
With airlines upgrading
their terminals, more jets
capable of long-distance
flights added and visa
procedures becoming
smoother, the U.S. saw
an influx of international
visitors in 2012.
Much of this increase was
due to the U.S. National
Travel and Tourism
Strategy implemented in
January 2012, which was
aimed at bringing more
travellers to the United
States to experience the
broad and wonderful
assortment of activities
and attractions we have to
offer.
Turning to Canada, the
popular city of Toronto
garnered international
attention in 2012 by adding
to its current roster of
high-end properties. The
sheer number of luxury
properties in one city is a
clear indication that retailer
confidence in the market
is high.
Canadians overall also
had a stronger economic
year than their American
counterparts and travel
was definitely on the radar
with a major increase in
travel abroad. Combined
with the recent increase in
the amount of purchased
goods cross-border
shoppers can now declare
and a strong Canadian
Dollar, we anticipate travel
to the U.S. remaining
strong in 2013.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
7

Figure 5 HPI half-yearly breakdown North America from H1 2004 to H2 2012
Index Points
140
130
120
110
H1 2004
H2 2004
H1 2005
H2 2005
H1 2006
H2 2006
North America moving
forward
Average hotel prices in
North America rose 5% in
2012, the second highest
rise around the world,
beating the global rise and
equalling its 2011 increase,
thereby recording two
strong years of growth.
The good news for
travellers was that the
North American HPI was
still ten points behind its
2007 peak, standing at just
107, the same level as in
H1 2007
H2 2007
H1 2008
H2 2008
H1 2009
H2 2009
2005 and matching the
global figure.
H1 2010
Rates in the US fell the
farthest following the
global banking collapse
and this result is a
significant recovery from
the 2009 low of 96.
H2 2010
H1 2011
H2 2011
H1 2012
H2 2012
North America
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
8

Matthew Walls
Vice President
Hotels.com EMEA
Whilst hotel prices across
Europe have remained
relatively flat overall in 2012,
the average hides some
really interesting shifts in
demand at the country
and destination level.
There is no doubt that the
much publicised economic
downturn has impacted
hotel prices, especially
in the southern part of
the Eurozone. Hoteliers in
Greece, Italy and Turkey
certainly had to tighten
their belts, but this resulted
in a surge in great deals
especially in the lead up to
the summer season.
We’ve also seen
a corresponding
strengthening in demand,
and hence pricing, in
the countries whose
economies have remained
in relative health. Average
hotel rates paid have risen
in Germany, Norway and
Sweden compared to 2011
and have really rebounded
in Iceland since their “dark
days” of 2010.
Whilst the overall volume
of trips to long-haul
destinations is much
smaller than the shorthaul
and domestic market,
we’ve seen a strong
resurgence in demand
for far-flung markets.
Average prices paid by
European customers for
Latin America, the USA
and Australasia have risen
on the back of stronger
demand. In the Caribbean,
resorts were offering allinclusive
rates, helping
customers manage
their holiday budget
more accurately.
The 2012 Olympics and
Paralympics in London
was big news in 2012. Such
a large event inevitably
caused volatility in
London hotel pricing with
significant rises at the
start of the year. Once the
organising committee,
LOCOG, started releasing
the blocks of rooms
they were holding, and
hoteliers realised demand
was not going to be as
strong as hoped, pricing
fell significantly. These
adjustments seemed
to coincide with a late
surge in demand from the
domestic market and so
overall the hotel market
was able to contribute to
the overall success of what
was a fantastic event.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
9

Figure 6 HPI half-yearly breakdown EMEA from H1 2004 to H2 2012
Index Points
140
130
120
110
H1 2004
H2 2004
H1 2005
H2 2005
H1 2006
Slight drop in Europe
and Middle East
Average hotel prices across
Europe and the Middle
East followed a different
pattern, registering a fall of
just under half a per cent
during 2012, well behind
the global figure and also
down on 2011 which saw a
2% rise.
The HPI for the region
for 2012 stood at 101, the
lowest of all the regions,
only just higher than its
starting level in 2004 and
H2 2006
H1 2007
H2 2007
H1 2008
H2 2008
H1 2009
H2 2009
H1 2010
significantly behind its 2007
peak of 116.
Europe has been badly
affected by the economic
crisis in the Eurozone and
the Middle East suffered a
lack of confidence in travel
during the Arab Spring
of 2011, although some
destinations have bounced
back.
H2 2010
H1 2011
H2 2011
H1 2012
H2 2012
Europe &
Middle East
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
10

puntos Index de Points índice
Figure 7 HPI half-yearly breakdown by region from 2004 to 2012
140
130
120
110
H1 2004
100
H2 2004
H1 2005
H2 2005
H1 2006
H2 2006
H1 2007
H2 2007
H1 2008
H2 2008
H1 2009
Latin America
Pacific
Caribbean
H2 2009
H1 2010
H2 2010
H1 2011
Asia
North America
Europe & Middle East
H2 2011
H1 2012
H2 2012

2
London
PRICE CHANGES
IN GLOBAL CITY
DESTINATIONS
The following sections
reflect the actual prices
paid by travellers from
the UK in Pound Sterling
(£) during 2012 compared
to prices paid in Pound
Sterling in 2011, except in
Chapter 4 where the data
shows prices paid in the
UK by all travellers from
around the world.
UK travellers paid more
in over half of the
international destinations
included in the HPI with
rises mainly coming in
the USA, Australia, Latin
America and the major
cities in Asia, while Europe
continued to provide some
of the best value. Of the 116
cities included in the report,
prices were up in 63, flat in
six and down in 47.
Eurozone crisis helped
prices fall
In general, average hotel
prices in Europe fell for
UK travellers, helped very
much by the economic
situation in the Eurozone
which deterred travel
to and within the most
affected countries.
In this Olympic year,
domestic travellers to
London found excellent
value as prices fell by 7%
to £110, while Edinburgh
slipped 1% to £95. Further
details of price moves in
the UK can be found in
Chapter 4.
With a rise of 6% to an
average £200 a night,
Monte Carlo claimed
the overall top slot from
Muscat as the destination
where UK travellers paid
the most in the HPI.
The Baltic states saw price
falls for the first time in
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
12

some years with Vilnius
providing the best value in
Europe with a rate of £53
after a 1% fall, followed by
neighbouring Riga on £54
and a drop of 3%. Tallinn
painted a different picture
with its average price rising
13%, the highest in Europe,
to £68.
With the Pound
strengthening in the first
half of the year, Eurozone
rates in major city break
destinations tumbled.
Athens led the way as a
result of a 10% fall to £72,
Rome next falling 9% to
£106, Amsterdam and
Madrid both down 8% to
£106 and £82 respectively,
with 7% falls for Milan
to £103 and Lisbon to
£76. Some sunshine
destinations saw a similar
picture with average rates
in Alicante down 10% to £64,
although this was primarily
due to rates readjusting
following The Volvo Ocean
Race held there in 2011.
Prices in Antalya fell 7% to
£99 and Benidorm was
down 4% to £71. Elsewhere,
Marrakech
however, the picture was
reversed with a 7% rise in
both Palma de Mallorca to
£101 and Torremolinos to
£63 with Cannes up 6% to
£149 and Ibiza up 4% to £105,
due to strong demand
in the high season
particularly.
The strength of the
German economy helped
rates rise in Munich by
5% to £106, boosted by an
increase in both business
and leisure travellers. The
capital Berlin, traditionally
with some of the best
value rooms in the country,
was up 2% to £75. This can
be attributed to higher
demand but also to an
improvement in the hotel
stock with older properties
closing and being replaced
with more niche and
upmarket products.
Frankfurt, however, fell 4%
to an average £100.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
13

In Switzerland, with the
Swiss Franc losing some
ground to the Pound in
the first half of the year,
rates continued to slide. In
Zurich, hoteliers dropped
their prices to remain
more competitive and the
average fell 8% over the
year to £133. In Geneva,
there was a 5% fall to £159,
although this still placed
the city in sixth place in the
overall price table.
Farther east, prices in Kiev
settled to register an 8%
rise to £106 for the year,
following its hefty increase
of 46% in the first half of
2012 as a result of hosting
the European Football
Championship in June.
Confidence returned to
the Middle East
Following the turbulent
start to 2011 with the
turmoil of the Arab Spring,
confidence returned to
much of the Middle East
and North Africa during
2012, allowing hotel
prices to rise as travellers
returned.
In Egypt, the Red Sea
resort of Sharm el Sheikh,
which had been particularly
badly affected by the drop
in visitor numbers, bounced
back 34%, the highest rise
in the HPI, to an average
£92 a night. Cairo still has
some way to go though
as its rates fell 7% to £98.
Marrakech also benefitted
from the increased
buoyancy in the market
and recorded a 10% rise to
£78 but Casablanca was
down 7% to £80.
Dubai, the most popular
destination in the region,
saw high occupancy
drive its rates up 14% to
£137 as more upmarket
hotels opened. Abu Dhabi
prices also rose 10% to £115.
Conversely, rates in Muscat
dropped 12% to £188 as the
city’s 5-star hotels lowered
their rates, although this
still placed the destination
as the second highest
priced in the table.
San Francisco
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
14

New York
USA led the way
UK travellers paid more
for their hotel stays
during 2012 in all 15 US
destinations included in
the HPI as the stronger
economy coupled with
increased international and
domestic travellers drove
significant double-digit
increases.
The steepest were on
the west coast with San
Francisco having the
highest increase of 20% to
£136 while Seattle and Los
Angeles both reached £125
following respective rises
of 14% and 13%.
Popular holiday
destinations followed suit
with Orlando up 18% to £73,
New Orleans up 16% to £106,
Key West up 10% to £154
and the Grand Canyon up
9% to £79, with Miami and
Las Vegas both up 8% to
£133 and £85 respectively.
The major northeast cities
had a similar experience,
although overall increases
were not as high, with
Boston up 10% to £151,
Washington DC up 4%
to £123 and New York,
the highest priced US
destination and at No 3 in
the overall table, up 3% to
£179.
Australia drove the
Pacific increase
The resources boom in
Australia and the resultant
increase in business traffic
continued to drive prices
higher for UK travellers
during 2012, particularly
for those visiting Western
Australia where the
average cost of a room
in the capital Perth rose
22%, the second highest
increase in the HPI, to £142,
the highest average in the
country.
Across the other side of
the continent, Sydney saw
its average prices rise 8%
to £128 with Melbourne up
7% to £106 and Brisbane up
4% to £114.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
15

40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
-10%
-20%
Sharm El Sheikh
Perth
Good performance in
Asia
There were several factors
influencing the price rises
across Asia during 2012:
the return of travel to and
from Japan following
the disasters of 2011,
the strength of the local
economies, the continued
rise in the number of
Chinese travellers and an
increase in the number
of flights by low cost
carriers. However, the
region still offers excellent
value for travellers and
remains popular with
luxury holidaymakers and
backpackers alike.
In the major cities, Hong
Kong benefitted from all
these stimuli, which drove
its rates 10% higher to
£130. Hanoi‘s percentage
increase was greater
at 14%, albeit with prices
considerably lower at £49.
Travellers paid 9% more in
Kuala Lumpur at £79 while
there was more modest
growth of 6% in Beijing to
£74, 5% in Shanghai to £80
and 4% in both Taipei to £95
Figure 8 The biggest percentage price rises in 2012 compared with 2011
San Francisco
Orlando
Siem Reap
Kyoto
New Orleans
Dubai
Hanoi
Seattle
Osaka
Tallinn
Los Angeles
Rio de Janeiro
Mexico City
Bali
Marrakech
Abu Dhabi
and Bangkok to £61. Phnom
Penh was the destination
where UK travellers paid
the lowest rates in the
report at an average £40 a
night, the same as in 2011.
Hotel prices in Japan had
tumbled in 2011 following
the earthquake, tsunami
and nuclear emergency
in the first half of the year
but rebounded during 2012
as travellers returned, with
Kyoto up 16% to £105, Osaka
up 14% to £74 and Tokyo up
6% to £109.
Boston
Key West
Hong Kong
Kuala Lumpur
Grand Canyon
Chicago
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
16

In tourist destinations,
Copenhagen
Geneva
Bruges
Budapest
Pattaya
the picture was mixed.
Siem Reap, the gateway
to Cambodia’s Angkor
region, registered a 17%
climb to £51, Bali saw an 11%
upswing to £114 and Krabi
grew 6% to £72. On the
other hand, Koh Samui slid
9% to £75 and Pattaya fell
6% to £48.
Latin American
powerhouses
For the full year 2012,
there was another strong
performance in the main
Cairo
Milan
Warsaw
economies of Latin
America. In Brazil, although
the Pound gained ground
against the Real during
the year, UK travellers paid
13% more to stay in Rio de
Janeiro at £177, placing it
at No 4 in the price table
as limited hotel supply
helped to drive up rates.
As the city prepares for
the World Cup in 2014 and
the Olympic Games in
2016, it will be interesting to
watch the impact of these
global events on average
hotel prices in the next few
years. Sao Paolo was also
Figure 9 The biggest percentage price falls in 2012 compared with 2011
St Petersburg
Antalya
Buenos Aires
Casablanca
Lisbon
London
Madrid
up 6% to £135 while prices
in Mexico City grew 12% to
£88 and in Cancun by 4%
to £131.
Elsewhere, though, Bogota
tumbled 17% to £92 and
visitors to Buenos Aires
paid 7% less at an average
of £90.
Zurich
Amsterdam
Rome
Koh Samui
Alicante
Athens
Muscat
Bogota
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
-10%
-20%

Table 1 Average hotel prices in 2012 compared with 2011
Destination 2012 2011 % change
Monte Carlo £200 £189 6%
Muscat £188 £215 -12%
New York £179 £174 3%
Rio de Janeiro £177 £157 13%
Moscow £160 £163 -1%
Geneva £159 £168 -5%
Key West £154 £140 10%
Boston £151 £137 10%
Cannes £149 £141 6%
Perth £142 £117 22%
Singapore £138 £137 1%
Dubai £137 £119 14%
San Francisco £136 £113 20%
Sao Paulo £135 £127 6%
Langkawi £134 £137 -2%
Zurich £133 £145 -8%
Miami £133 £123 8%
Venice £132 £137 -4%
Cancun £131 £126 4%
Hong Kong £130 £119 10%
Sydney £128 £118 8%
Stockholm £127 £129 -2%
Paris £127 £127 0%
Seattle £125 £109 14%
Los Angeles £125 £111 13%
Dubrovnik £125 £127 -2%
Doha £123 £121 2%
Washington DC £123 £118 4%
Jerusalem £119 £123 -4%
Destination 2012 2011 % change
Nice £119 £115 3%
Chicago £118 £109 9%
Abu Dhabi £115 £104 10%
Oslo £114 £115 0%
Brisbane £114 £110 4%
Johannesburg £114 £108 6%
Bali £114 £103 11%
Cape Town £111 £104 7%
LONDON £110 £118 -7%
Seoul £110 £107 3%
Helsinki £109 £107 2%
Tokyo £109 £103 6%
Vancouver £108 £108 -1%
Copenhagen £107 £112 -5%
Marbella £106 £106 1%
Munich £106 £101 5%
Kiev £106 £99 8%
Rome £106 £116 -9%
Amsterdam £106 £116 -8%
New Orleans £106 £92 16%
Melbourne £106 £98 7%
Kyoto £105 £91 16%
Ibiza £105 £101 4%
Mumbai £105 £109 -4%
St Petersburg £105 £113 -7%
Fort Lauderdale £105 £99 6%
Florence £104 £108 -3%
Toronto £104 £99 5%
Milan £103 £110 -7%
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
18

Destination 2012 2011 % change
Palma de Mallorca £101 £95 7%
Istanbul £101 £96 5%
Barcelona £100 £105 -4%
Frankfurt £100 £105 -4%
San Diego £100 £96 4%
Antalya £99 £106 -7%
Cairo £98 £105 -7%
Bruges £96 £102 -5%
Vienna £95 £98 -3%
EDINBURGH £95 £96 -1%
Taipei £95 £91 4%
Brussels £92 £94 -2%
Bogota £92 £111 -17%
Sharm El Sheikh £92 £69 34%
Buenos Aires £90 £96 -7%
Delhi £88 £85 4%
Mexico City £88 £79 12%
Las Vegas £85 £79 8%
Madrid £82 £89 -8%
Casablanca £80 £86 -7%
Shanghai £80 £76 5%
Reykjavik £79 £78 1%
Grand Canyon £79 £73 9%
Kuala Lumpur £79 £72 9%
Phuket £78 £80 -2%
Marrakech £78 £71 10%
Lisbon £76 £81 -7%
Koh Samui £75 £83 -9%
Wellington £75 £73 3%
Destination 2012 2011 % change
Goa £75 £75 -1%
Berlin £75 £73 2%
Beijing £74 £70 6%
Osaka £74 £65 14%
Dublin £73 £73 0%
Orlando £73 £62 18%
Bucharest £73 £74 -2%
Athens £72 £81 -10%
Krabi £72 £68 6%
Warsaw £71 £76 -7%
Benidorm £71 £74 -4%
Prague £71 £72 -1%
Auckland £70 £70 0%
Tallinn £68 £60 13%
Albufeira £65 £68 -4%
Budapest £64 £68 -5%
Alicante £64 £71 -10%
Torremolinos £63 £59 7%
Bratislava £62 £61 3%
Bangkok £61 £58 4%
Krakow £61 £62 -1%
Ho Chi Minh City £59 £60 -2%
Riga £54 £56 -3%
Vilnius £53 £54 -1%
Chiang Mai £53 £52 0%
Siem Reap £51 £43 17%
Hanoi £49 £42 14%
Pattaya £48 £52 -6%
Phnom Penh £40 £40 0%
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
19

Table 2 The biggest percentage price rises in 2012
compared with 2011
Destination 2012 2011 % change
Sharm El Sheikh £92 £69 34%
Perth £142 £117 22%
San Francisco £136 £113 20%
Orlando £73 £62 18%
Siem Reap £51 £43 17%
Kyoto £105 £91 16%
New Orleans £106 £92 16%
Dubai £137 £119 14%
Hanoi £49 £42 14%
Seattle £125 £109 14%
Osaka £74 £65 14%
Tallinn £68 £60 13%
Los Angeles £125 £111 13%
Rio de Janeiro £177 £157 13%
Mexico City £88 £79 12%
Bali £114 £103 11%
Marrakech £78 £71 10%
Abu Dhabi £115 £104 10%
Boston £151 £137 10%
Key West £154 £140 10%
Hong Kong £130 £119 10%
Kuala Lumpur £79 £72 9%
Grand Canyon £79 £73 9%
Chicago £118 £109 9%
Table 3 The biggest percentage price falls in 2012
compared with 2011
Destination 2012 2011 % change
Bogota £92 £111 -17%
Muscat £188 £215 -12%
Athens £72 £81 -10%
Alicante £64 £71 -10%
Koh Samui £75 £83 -9%
Rome £106 £116 -9%
Amsterdam £106 £116 -8%
Zurich £133 £145 -8%
Madrid £82 £89 -8%
LONDON £110 £118 -7%
Lisbon £76 £81 -7%
Casablanca £80 £86 -7%
Buenos Aires £90 £96 -7%
Antalya £99 £106 -7%
St. Petersburg £105 £113 -7%
Warsaw £71 £76 -7%
Milan £103 £110 -7%
Cairo £98 £105 -7%
Pattaya £48 £52 -6%
Budapest £64 £68 -5%
Bruges £96 £102 -5%
Geneva £159 £168 -5%
Copenhagen £107 £112 -5%
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
20

Table 4
Best value European
city break destinations
Destination Price
Vilnius £53
Riga £54
Krakow £61
Bratislava £62
Budapest £64
Tallinn £68
Prague £71
Warsaw £71
Athens £72
Bucharest £73
Table 8
Best value backpacker
destinations
Destination Price
Phnom Penh £40
Pattaya £48
Siem Reap £51
Chiang Mai £53
Ho Chi Minh City £59
Bangkok £61
Krabi £72
Goa £75
Ko Samui £75
Phuket £78
Table 5
Best cities for nightlife*
Destination Price
New York £179
Las Vegas £85
LONDON £110
Paris £127
Barcelona £100
Berlin £75
Amsterdam £106
Madrid £82
Los Angeles £125
Bangkok £61
Table 9
Top European football
cities**
Destination Price
Paris £127
LONDON £110
Munich £106
Milan £103
Barcelona £100
Turin £83
Madrid £82
MANCHESTER £76
GLASGOW £70
Dortmund £63
*as voted in a Hotels.com survey of 27,000
travellers around the world
Table 6
Most expensive US
destinations
Destination Price
New York £179
Key West £154
Boston £151
San Francisco £136
Miami £133
Los Angeles £125
Seattle £125
Washington DC £123
Chicago £118
New Orleans £106
Table 10
Best places for
romance
Destination Price
Seychelles £280
New York £179
Capri £149
Venice £132
Paris £127
Verona £120
Bali £114
Rome £106
Florence £104
Koh Samui £75
Table 7
Top shopping cities
around the world
Destination Price
New York £179
Singapore £138
Dubai £137
Hong Kong £130
Paris £127
LONDON £110
Milan £103
Barcelona £100
Berlin £75
Bangkok £61
Table 11
Most 3-star Michelin
restaurants
Destination Price
Tokyo £109
Paris £127
New York £179
Kyoto £105
Hong Kong £130
Osaka £74
San Sebastian £107
Bruges £96
BRAY £96
LONDON £110
** compiled from teams qualifying for the Round
of 16 at the 2012 UEFA Champions League
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
21

1
San
Francisco
£136
20%
Las Vegas
£85
8%
New
Orleans
£106
16%
Cancun
£131
4%
New York
£179
3%
Bogota
£92
17%
Global hotel price changes
in 2012 compared with 2011
Buenos
Aires
£90
7%
Rio
de Janeiro
£177
13%
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: The Jan Hotel - Dec Price 2012Index
review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
Marrakech
£78
10%
London
£110
7%
22
Ge
£

Berlin
£75
2%
neva
159
5%
S
St Petersburg
£105
7%
Moscow
£160
1%
Athens
£72
10%
Doha
£123
2%
Dubai
£137
14%
Muscat
£188
12%
Mumbai
£105
4%
Pattaya
£48
6%
Singapore
£138
1%
Beijing
£74
6% Tokyo
£109
6%
Hong Kong
£130
10%
Perth
£142
22%
The Hotel Price Index review of of global hotel prices: Jan - - Dec 2012 232
Sydney
£128
8%

3
Australia
PRICE CHANGES
BY COUNTRY
In 2012, UK travellers paid
more for their hotel rooms
in just under half of the
countries included in the
HPI with rates affected by
the more stable situation
in the Middle East and
North Africa, the strength
of individual economies
such as Australia and Brazil
and the return to more
normal travel patterns in
Asia following the turmoil
in Japan in early 2011.
The price falls seen in
many Eurozone countries
where better news for
UK travellers. Financial
insecurity led to a fall in the
number of visitors causing
overall rates to drop and
the strength of the Pound
against the Euro in the
first half of the year meant
British visitors paid less.
UK travellers paid less for
their hotel rooms in 23 of
the countries covered by
the report, including the UK
which was down 4% to £84.
The principality of Monaco
took the No 1 slot in
the price table with its
average up 7% on 2011 at
£194 pushing Oman, last
year’s titleholder, down into
second place following a
fall of 15% to £181.
Not surprisingly, the largest
drop was in Greece with
an 11% fall to £86, followed
by the Netherlands, down
8% to £97 and Switzerland,
down 7% to £136. Estonia
was one of the few
Eurozone countries where
rates rose, up 13% to £68.
The Baltic states remained
great value with Lithuania
keeping its place as the
European country with
the lowest rates in the
report, following a 5% fall to
£52, and Latvia down 4%,
slightly higher at £55.
The Middle East and North
Africa saw its fortunes
improve as confidence and
higher occupancy returned
to the region. Rates in the
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
24

UAE, driven by Dubai and
Abu Dhabi, rose 14% to £133
and in Saudi Arabia by
12% to £129. Egypt, whose
tourist numbers were
particularly badly affected
as a result of the Arab
Spring, saw a 15% rise, the
highest of all the countries
in the report, to £81. Only
Oman saw its rates drop
by 15% to £181 as luxury
hoteliers lowered their
prices but this still placed
the country in second
place in the overall price
table.
In Asia, the fastest riser
was Cambodia, up 11% to
£47, although it was still the
country with lowest prices
in the report. Following the
natural and nuclear crises
in 2011 which drove prices
down as visitors stayed
away, Japan also saw its
average prices grow by
8% to £100 as trust was
restored to the market.
Prices also climbed in
Vietnam, up 7%, but, with
an average rate of £59, the
country remained great
value.
Japan
There were mixed results
in Latin America. Chile
was up 11% to £112, Brazil,
the highest priced country
in the region, grew 8% to
£151 and Mexico gained 7%
to £113. Elsewhere, prices
were falling with Colombia
down 8% to £98, Puerto
Rico down 4% to £110 and
Argentina down 2% to £95.
Strong economies also led
to increases in Australia,
where UK travellers paid
9% more for their hotel
rooms at an average
£118, and in the US, where
increased business travel
helped drive up occupancy,
with rates rising 5% to £114.
South African prices were
also up 5% to £111 as room
supply dropped with many
hotels, opened for the 2010
World Cup, either closed
or were converted into
residential apartments.
Of the 71 countries included
in the report, UK travellers
paid more in 35, the same
in two and less in 34.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
25

Table 12 Average hotel prices by country in 2012 compared with 2011
Destination 2012 2011 % change
Monaco £194 £181 7%
Oman £181 £213 -15%
Mauritius £160 £178 -10%
Brazil £151 £141 8%
Russia £143 £144 -1%
Singapore £138 £137 1%
Israel £137 £135 2%
Switzerland £136 £146 -7%
Jordan £136 £124 10%
United Arab Emirates £133 £117 14%
Saudi Arabia £129 £115 12%
Qatar £123 £121 2%
Norway £119 £124 -4%
Australia £118 £108 9%
Croatia £117 £113 4%
Sweden £117 £117 0%
USA £114 £109 5%
Mexico £113 £105 7%
Chile £112 £101 11%
South Africa £111 £106 5%
Puerto Rico £110 £115 -4%
South Korea £110 £103 6%
Finland £107 £105 2%
Italy £107 £112 -5%
Jamaica £106 £110 -3%
Canada £105 £102 3%
Denmark £105 £111 -5%
France £103 £105 -1%
Ukraine £103 £94 9%
Destination 2012 2011 % change
Indonesia £101 £97 4%
Japan £100 £93 8%
Turkey £99 £95 5%
Colombia £98 £107 -8%
Netherlands £97 £106 -8%
Cyprus £95 £102 -6%
Argentina £95 £97 -2%
Austria £93 £97 -4%
Taiwan £91 £87 5%
Luxembourg £91 £93 -2%
Costa Rica £90 £91 -1%
Belgium £90 £94 -5%
Slovenia £89 £93 -4%
Germany £87 £88 -1%
Greece £86 £96 -11%
Peru £85 £85 -1%
Malaysia £85 £86 -2%
Spain £85 £85 0%
UNITED KINGDOM £84 £87 -4%
Malta £83 £78 6%
India £82 £83 -1%
Portugal £82 £82 -1%
Egypt £81 £71 15%
Iceland £80 £80 1%
Morocco £77 £71 8%
China £75 £74 2%
New Zealand £75 £73 3%
Ireland £72 £73 -1%
Czech Republic £71 £71 -1%
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
26

Destination 2012 2011 % change
Romania £69 £70 -1%
Estonia £68 £60 13%
Thailand £68 £69 -2%
Philippines £65 £63 4%
Hungary £64 £67 -5%
Slovakia £64 £62 3%
Poland £63 £64 -3%
Tunisia £61 £60 1%
Bulgaria £61 £59 2%
Vietnam £59 £55 7%
Latvia £55 £57 -4%
Lithuania £52 £55 -5%
Cambodia £47 £42 11%
China
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
27

Table 13
The biggest percentage price rises in 2012
compared with 2011
Destination 2012 2011 % change
Egypt £81 £71 15%
United Arab Emirates £133 £117 14%
Estonia £68 £60 13%
Saudi Arabia £129 £115 12%
Cambodia £47 £42 11%
Chile £112 £101 11%
Jordan £136 £124 10%
Ukraine £103 £94 9%
Australia £118 £108 9%
Morocco £77 £71 8%
Japan £100 £93 8%
Brazil £151 £141 8%
Mexico £113 £105 7%
Vietnam £59 £55 7%
Monaco £194 £181 7%
South Korea £110 £103 6%
Malta £83 £78 6%
USA £114 £109 5%
South Africa £111 £106 5%
Taiwan £91 £87 5%
Turkey £99 £95 5%
Table 14
The biggest percentage price falls in 2012
compared with 2011
Destination 2012 2011 % change
Oman £181 £213 -15%
Greece £86 £96 -11%
Mauritius £160 £178 -10%
Netherlands £97 £106 -8%
Colombia £98 £107 -8%
Switzerland £136 £146 -7%
Cyprus £95 £102 -6%
Denmark £105 £111 -5%
Hungary £64 £67 -5%
Lithuania £52 £55 -5%
Belgium £90 £94 -5%
Italy £107 £112 -5%
Austria £93 £97 -4%
Puerto Rico £110 £115 -4%
UNITED KINGDOM £84 £87 -4%
Norway £119 £124 -4%
Slovenia £89 £93 -4%
Latvia £55 £57 -4%
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
28

£200
£190
£180
£170
£160
£150
£140
£130
£120
£110
£100
£90
£80
£70
£60
Average hotel prices by country
in 2012 compared with 2011
Brazil
£151 8%
USA
£114 5%
Lithuania
£52 -10%
Mexico
£113 7%
Egypt
£81 +15%
United
Kingdom
£84 -4%
Spain
£85 +0%
Vietnam
£59 +7%
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
Germany
£87 -1%
New
Zealand
£75 +3%
29
Fran
£103
Ch
£75

ce
-1%
ina
+2%
Ukraine
£103 +9%
India
£82 -1%
South Africa
£111 +5%
Taiwan
£91 +5%
United Arab
Emirates
£133 +14%
Japan
£100 +8%
Switzerland
£136 -7%
South
Korea
£110 +6%
Oman
£181 -15%
Australia
£118 +9%
Monaco
£194 +7%
Average hotel prices by country
in 2012 compared with 2011
Singapore
£138 +1%
£200
£190
£180
£170
£160
£150
£140
£130
£120
£110
£100
£90
£80
£70
£60

4
Edinburgh
FOCUS ON
THE UK
This chapter covers the
prices paid in the UK by
all travellers. It shows that
hotel guests in 2012 paid
an average 4% less for
their hotel rooms across
the country to a national
rate of £100 a night with
prices flat or falling in 32
of the 41 destinations
covered by the report. 2012
was officially declared the
wettest on record for the
UK and this would have
discouraged visitors from
visiting many seaside
locations.
St Andrews retained its
position at the top of the
price chart on £135, in spite
of a 12% drop, the highest
of all UK towns and cities
included. Jersey shared
the same percentage fall
with its rates dropping to
an average £98. The cost
of air travel to the island
went up this year which
deterred some visitors and
hotels dropped their rates
at the start of the summer
season to compensate.
Another Scottish city
had the second highest
drop rate with rates
in Perth falling 11% to
£65. The average cost
paid for a room in the
Yorkshire seaside town
of Scarborough fell 9% to
£57, the second lowest
level in the chart, and the
cathedral city of Durham
slid 8% to £71. Two cities
tied on a 6% fall with
Cambridge at £97 and
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
at £74. In this latter case,
the fact that Newcastle
football team were playing
in Europe for much of the
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
31

year meant that many
games were played on
a Thursday so Premier
League games were
moved from Saturday to
Sunday. This meant that
occupancy levels were less
compressed, leading to
lower rates.
Although London’s profile
was certainly boosted
worldwide by the Diamond
Jubilee celebrations and
the huge success of the
Olympics, overall prices
paid by visitors fell by 3%
to £126 over the year as
a whole. The number of
visitors during the Games
did not meet expectations
and hotels lowered their
prices in subsequent
months to stimulate
demand. This price still
placed the capital at No 2
in the table and the city will
be one to watch in 2013 to
see whether its moment
in the global spotlight has
an impact on its average
hotel prices going forward,
particularly as the royal
birth keeps the country
in the public eye. With
more than 12,000 rooms
added and many others
upgraded, improvements
in the capital’s hotel stock
during the year should also
have a positive influence,
although with another
5,000 rooms due to be
added in 2013*, oversupply
could become an issue.
In addition, Visit Britain
hopes that its GREAT
Britain – You’re Invited
marketing campaign,
which it continues to rollout
in key markets around
the world to capitalise on
the country’s 2012 success
story, will increase visitor
numbers in 2013 and
beyond.
Of the places lucky enough
to see their rates climb,
Belfast was up 10% to £73.
This made the city the
fastest riser in the report
as it benefitted from the
Titanic centenary and
the opening of the iconic
Belfast Titanic museum,
located on the slipways
where the liner was built.
Rates in Aberdeen were
up 9% to £93, driven by
midweek demand from
the buoyant energy sector.
Companies have seen tax
breaks resulting in more
offshore activity which
led to more training and
conferences coming to the
area. Southampton saw
its rates grow, partly as a
result of the high number
of visitors to the P&O
Cruises 175th anniversary
Grand Event in July which
helped to increase the
city’s average by 7% to £73.
As the City of Derry
prepares for its place as
the first UK City of Culture
in 2013, it has already seen
its hotel prices rise by 2%
to £68.
Of all the UK destinations
in the report, Coventry had
the lowest rates at £50, no
change on 2011.
* PwC European Hotels Forecast 2013
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
32

Table 15 Average price per room per night in 2012 compared with 2011 across the UK
Destination 2012 2011 % change
St Andrews £135 £154 -12%
London £126 £129 -3%
Windsor £114 £118 -4%
Bath £113 £111 1%
Oxford £111 £106 5%
Guernsey £103 £111 -7%
Edinburgh £101 £102 -1%
Jersey £98 £112 -12%
Cambridge £97 £104 -6%
Windermere £96 £98 -2%
Aberdeen £93 £85 9%
York £90 £89 0%
Stratford upon Avon £87 £89 -2%
Inverness £85 £82 4%
Brighton £85 £86 -1%
Cheltenham £81 £83 -2%
Canterbury £81 £80 1%
Manchester £79 £79 0%
Portsmouth £78 £78 0%
Liverpool £78 £80 -4%
Cardiff £75 £75 -1%
Destination 2012 2011 % change
Reading £75 £75 0%
Newcastle-upon-Tyne £74 £79 -6%
Bristol £74 £74 0%
Dundee £73 £74 -1%
Southampton £73 £68 7%
Belfast £73 £67 10%
Glasgow £71 £73 -2%
Durham £71 £77 -8%
Bournemouth £70 £73 -3%
Swansea £70 £71 -1%
City of Derry £68 £67 2%
Leeds £67 £67 0%
Perth £65 £73 -11%
Birmingham £65 £64 2%
Sheffield £63 £62 0%
Blackpool £62 £61 2%
Northampton £62 £62 0%
Nottingham £61 £62 -1%
Scarborough £57 £63 -9%
Leicester £57 £59 -4%
Coventry £50 £50 0%
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
33

Belfast
£73
10%
Glasgow
£71
2%
Liverpool
£78
4%
Cardiff
£75
1%
Aberdeen
£93
9%
St Andrews
£135
12%
Edinburgh
£101
1%
Newcastleupon-Tyne
£74
6%
Leeds
£67
0%
Manchester
£79
0%
Birmingham
£65
Bristol
£74
0%
Oxford
£111
5%
London
£126
3%
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012 34 36
2%
Brighton
£85
1%

Brighton
Top spenders
One new piece of research
included for the first time
in this report looks at the
average price paid for a
hotel room in the UK by
visiting country.
This shows that, of the
39 nations included in the
report, 34 paid less in 2012
than the previous year in
the country as a whole
with four flat and just one
higher, in line with the
results in the first part of
this chapter which shows
UK rates falling overall.
With a spread of nearly
£100 a night between the
top and bottom of the
table, it was visitors from
the Middle East who parted
with the most money
to stay in this country at
£172, down 3% on 2011, way
ahead of the rest of the
field.
After that, it would seem
that those who travelled
the furthest to reach the
country also paid the
most when they arrived.
In second place was one
of three Latin American
countries in the Top 10,
Brazil on £138, the same
as in 2011. The Japanese
held the third spot at £132,
the only nation to pay
more at 1% higher, with the
Americans, Britain’s most
valuable source market,
down 2% but not far behind
on £131.
The highest paying
Europeans were the
Russians at No 8 on £122,
in spite of 14% drop on the
previous year.
The amount paid by the
Chinese showed the
largest drop of 18% to £121,
although this still placed
them in the Top 10 highest
payers at No 9, followed by
the Hungarians dropping
17% to £98 at tied 28th with
Iceland and France, and
the Polish at No 38, down
16% to £83 respectively.
Those paying the least
were more of the country’s
closest neighbours with
the last 15 places in the
chart all held by European
countries. Lithuania was
at the bottom of the table
on an average £73 a night,
down 15%.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
35

Table 16 The average price paid for a hotel room in the UK in 2012 compared with 2011 by
visiting country
Rank Destination 2012 2011 % Change
1 Middle East £172 £178 -3%
2 Brazil £138 £138 0%
3 Japan £132 £130 1%
4 USA £131 £133 -2%
5= Mexico £130 £141 -7%
5= Argentina £130 £130 0%
7 Singapore £123 £129 -4%
8 Russia £122 £142 -14%
9 China £121 £147 -18%
10= South Africa £120 £135 -11%
10= Colombia £120 £124 -3%
10= Norway £120 £121 -1%
13= Israel £119 £130 -8%
13= India £119 £123 -3%
15 Thailand £118 £127 -8%
16= Australia £116 £120 -3%
16= Switzerland £116 £122 -5%
18 Canada £115 £121 -5%
19 Hong Kong £113 £113 0%
20 Sweden £112 £115 -2%
21 South Korea £110 £116 -5%
Rank Destination 2012 2011 % Change
22 Austria £107 £107 0%
23 Denmark £106 £108 -2%
24 New Zealand £103 £106 -2%
25= Portugal £102 £104 -1%
25= Finland £102 £104 -2%
25= Belgium £102 £107 -5%
28= Hungary £98 £118 -17%
28= Iceland £98 £105 -7%
28= France £98 £105 -7%
31 Italy £96 £108 -11%
32= Netherlands £93 £96 -4%
32= Germany £93 £100 -7%
32= Spain £93 £104 -11%
35= Greece £91 £100 -9%
35= Ireland £91 £97 -7%
37 Czech Republic £86 £96 -10%
38 Poland £83 £99 -16%
39 Lithuania £73 £86 -15%
40 Poland £83 £99 -16%
42 Lithuania £73 £86 -15%
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
36

5
PRICES PAID
AT HOME AND
AWAY
Travelling abroad
UK travellers were just in
the Top 10 in the table of
biggest spenders abroad,
tying at No 10 with New
Zealand with an average
figure of £100 a night.
The Japanese spent the
most away from home
once again on £118 followed
by the Australians on
£110 and the Swiss as the
highest-paying Europeans
on £108, tied with the
Americans in third place.
There were two other
European nations in
the Top 10 with the
Norwegians at No 6 on
£106 and the Russians
at No 8 on £101, tied with
Argentina. There was one
further Asian country with
China at No 5 on £107 and
Brazil took the final slot at
No 7 on £104.
The Spanish were the
savviest nationality overall
with an average spend
of £83 at the bottom of
the table, followed by the
Dutch on £84.
Travelling at home
With a span of £66
between the top and
bottom of the chart, the
average rate for the British
staying in the UK was £82,
putting them at No 15.
Swiss travellers paid the
most on £122 for a night
travelling domestically,
followed by those from
Singapore in second
place on £118 and the
Norwegians in third on £117.
The Australians were in
fourth place at £112 and
there were three other
European nations in the
Top 10 with Sweden at No
5 on £102 while Denmark
and Russia tied at No 8
on £94. There were two
more from Asia with South
Korea and Hong Kong
tied at No 6 on £98. The
Canadians made up the
Top 10 at No 10 on £91.
At the other end of the
table, those looking for
best value at home were
the Indians on £56 a night,
followed by the Portuguese
on £57 and the Spanish
on £59.
More at home or
away?
Of the 29 countries
analysed, 20 paid more
abroad than at home with
some of them having a
considerable gap between
the two sums. The
Chinese spent £41 a night
more on average when
travelling abroad, followed
by the Argentinians on £34
and the Indians on £33.
UK travellers were in this
category, spending £18 less
at home than abroad.
Only nine nations paid
more at home than
away. Travellers from
Singapore had the greatest
difference, spending £27
more domestically than
abroad, followed by the
Swiss with a £14 variation
and the Norwegians with
£11.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
37

Table 17 Average room prices paid by travellers when travelling
overseas versus those paid within their own countries
Rank Country Away
1 Japan £118
2 Australia £110
3= USA £108
3= Switzerland £108
5 China £107
6 Norway £106
7 Brazil £104
8= Russia £101
8= Argentina £101
10 UNITED KINGDOM £100
10= New Zealand £100
12 Sweden £99
13 Canada £95
14= Colombia £94
14= Austria £94
16 Ireland £93
17= Singapore £91
17= Hong Kong £91
17= Denmark £91
20 South Korea £90
21 India £89
22 Italy £87
23 Finland £86
24= France £85
24= Germany £85
24= Portugal £85
24= Mexico £85
28 Netherlands £84
29 Spain £83
Rank Country Home
1 Switzerland £122
2 Singapore £118
3 Norway £117
4 Australia £112
5 Sweden £102
6= South Korea £98
6= Hong Kong £98
8= Denmark £94
8= Russia £94
10 Canada £91
11= Finland £89
11= Japan £89
13 Brazil £84
14 Colombia £83
15 UNITED KINGDOM £82
16 USA £79
17 Austria £77
18 Netherlands £76
19 Mexico £73
20 Germany £72
21 Italy £71
22 Ireland £69
23 New Zealand £68
24 Argentina £67
25= France £66
25= China £66
27 Spain £59
28 Portugal £57
29 India £56
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
38

6
WHERE TO
STAY FOR £100 A
NIGHT
Anyone looking for a great
value luxury weekend city
break from the UK should
consider both Budapest
and Warsaw where 5-star
accommodation was still
available for £100 a night or
less on average during 2012.
There was a much wider
selection of 4-star rooms
for an average £100 or
less with 23 destinations
available around the world,
up from 20 in 2011. There
were 11 in Europe including
Berlin, Madrid, Prague and
Vienna, six in Asia such
as Bangkok, Beijing and
Shanghai, as well
as Buenos Aires, Cape
Town, Dubai and Las
Vegas, the only US city
to fit this category.
This sum could also buy
3-star lodging in another
28 cities, including the
popular UK destinations of
Edinburgh and London, but
only 1-star in New York.
Warsaw Dubai
London
Melbourne
Los Angeles New York
HOLLYWOOD
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
39

Table 18 The star rating that can be purchased with £100 a
night on average in the world’s top cities
Destination £100
Budapest
Warsaw
Bangkok
Beijing
Benidorm
Berlin
Brussels
Buenos Aires
Cairo
Cape Town
Delhi
Dubai
Dublin
Guangzhou
Istanbul
Las Vegas
Lisbon
Madrid
Marrakech
Mumbai
Pisa
Prague
Destination £100
Shanghai
Tallinn
Vienna
Amsterdam
Bali
Barcelona
Cancun
Copenhagen
EDINBURGH
Frankfurt
Helsinki
Hong Kong
Jerusalem
LONDON
Melbourne
Mexico City
Milan
Moscow
Munich
Nice
Orlando
Rome
Destination £100
Santiago
Seoul
Stockholm
Sydney
Taipei
Tokyo
Toronto
Vancouver
Venice
Boston
Chicago
Los Angeles
Miami
Montreal
Oslo
Paris
San Francisco
Seattle
Singapore
Washington DC
Zurich
New York
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
40

7
AVERAGE ROOM
PRICES BY
STAR RATING
For the HPI, Hotels.com
analysed the average
prices paid in Sterling
for hotel rooms across
different star ratings in
the world’s top cities to
help consumers make
the most of their travel
budget. With 5-star rates
starting at a cost-effective
£77 but rocketing as high
as an extravagant £397 on
average, it makes sense to
shop around and research
a range of destinations
before making a decision
on where to go, particularly
for a special occasion.
At the top of the 5-star
range at £397 was San
Francisco for the first time,
followed by Rio de Janiero
on £340 and the 2011 leader
New York now in third
place at £332. The highest
5-star European rates
were found in Geneva on
an average £327. The two
UK cities in the table were
much better value with
considerably lower rates as
London averaged £232 a
night and Edinburgh £151.
As in the past, Warsaw
offered the best deal on
5-star accommodation
with average prices of
£77 a night, followed by
Budapest on £96 and
Marrakech on £105. These
last two also had the
lowest 4-star at £61 for
the Hungarian capital
and £64 for the Moroccan
destination, followed
by Bangkok on £67. It
was harder for the UK
to compete in this area
with London at £128 and
Edinburgh at £103. However,
it was still less expensive
on average to stay in a
4-star hotel in the Scottish
capital than a 3-star
property in several popular
destinations such as
Chicago and Miami or even
a 2-star in New York.
For the more budgetminded,
at the other end
of the scale, Shanghai
and Bangkok offered the
lowest 2-star prices at a
very affordable £21 and £24
respectively. This meant
that British travellers could
have had 11 nights in a
2-star hotel in the Chinese
city for the price of one
5-star night in London.
For an inexpensive trip
in Europe, Budapest had
an unbeatable £29 2-star
average.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
41

Table 19 Average hotel room prices by star rating during 2012
Destination
Amsterdam £75 £88 £110 £159
Bali £30 £56 £106 £233
Bangkok £24 £33 £67 £126
Barcelona £65 £87 £101 £175
Beijing £33 £46 £77 £150
Benidorm £25 £57 £77 n/a
Berlin £54 £56 £74 £116
Boston £99 £134 £178 £297
Brussels £69 £81 £92 £118
Budapest £29 £43 £61 £96
Buenos Aires n/a £76 £93 £262
Cairo n/a £26 £78 £115
Cancun £43 £84 £169 £238
Cape Town £86 £65 £98 £199
Chicago £65 £110 £138 £288
Copenhagen £70 £99 £115 £163
Delhi £29 £42 £91 £140
Dubai £66 £63 £99 £203
Dublin £45 £62 £81 £153
EDINBURGH £68 £79 £103 £151
Frankfurt £76 £70 £102 £158
Geneva n/a £125 £159 £327
Guangzhou n/a £57 £92 £130
Helsinki £63 £94 £115 £181
Hong Kong £50 £93 £141 £243
Istanbul £49 £67 £88 £147
Jerusalem £59 £94 £118 £197
Las Vegas £37 £45 £85 £146
Destination
Lisbon £42 £51 £72 £109
LONDON £72 £89 £128 £232
Los Angeles £72 £110 £186 £280
Madrid £56 £69 £78 £138
Marrakech n/a £50 £64 £105
Melbourne n/a £70 £107 £175
Mexico City £46 £59 £120 n/a
Miami £77 £115 £186 £294
Milan n/a £71 £102 £219
Montreal £77 £108 £152 n/a
Moscow n/a £95 £160 £204
Mumbai £38 £72 £99 £136
Munich £79 £91 £111 £170
New York £110 £161 £203 £332
Nice £55 £82 £137 £223
Orlando £42 £73 £119 £217
Oslo £55 £103 £126 £163
Paris £74 £102 £151 £290
Pisa n/a £56 £83 £112
Prague n/a £48 £68 £117
Rio de Janeiro n/a £145 £205 £340
Rome £68 £83 £105 £227
San Francisco £87 £132 £172 £397
Santiago n/a £85 £138 £188
Seattle £84 £106 £163 n/a
Seoul £54 £82 £113 £203
Shanghai £21 £52 £77 £143
Singapore £61 £103 £148 £227
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
42

Table 19 (continued) Average hotel room prices by
star rating during 2012
Destination
Stockholm £80 £95 £136 £186
Sydney £41 £91 £124 £191
Taipei n/a £68 £106 £218
Tallinn £45 £47 £71 £116
Tokyo £55 £87 £160 £317
Toronto £74 £96 £139 n/a
Vancouver £78 £99 £140 £230
Venice £77 £100 £139 £214
Vienna £39 £79 £86 £144
Warsaw £41 £59 £77 £77
Washington DC £85 £120 £147 £175
Zurich £74 £118 £143 £145
Table 20 Top 10 most expensive
cities for 5-star hotels in 2012
Destination Price
San Francisco £397
Rio de Janeiro £340
New York £332
Geneva £327
Tokyo £317
Boston £297
Miami £294
Paris £290
Chicago £288
Los Angeles £280
Table 21 Affordable luxury: Top 10
destinations with the best-value
5-star hotels
Destination Price
Warsaw £77
Budapest £96
Marrakech £105
Lisbon £109
Pisa £112
Cairo £115
Berlin £116
Tallinn £116
Prague £117
Brussels £118
Hotel star ratings explained - There is no universal star rating system. Each country
has its own and, in some cases such as the UK, more than one. This means that
travellers should be aware of a possible disparity of standards and facilities when
booking rooms with the same star ratings in different countries.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
43

8
Venice
LUXURY FOR
LESS
UK travellers searching
for top-of-the-range hotel
accommodation for less
were able to benefit from
some significant price
falls in 5- and 4-star prices
across the world during
2012.
The highest 5-star falls
were in Guangzhou with
a 30% drop to an average
£130 and Buenos Aires
sliding 20% to £262. With
the economic woes in
Europe, luxury breaks
became considerably
cheaper and many
European cities appeared
in the list with double-digit
falls greater than in recent
years. Zurich was down
17% to £145, Venice down
16% to £214, Oslo down
11% to £163 with prices
paid in Budapest, Vienna,
Frankfurt and Barcelona all
down 10% to £96, £144, £158
and £175 respectively.
The same was true in
the 4-star range with
Biarritz down 13% to £118,
Milan down 11% to £102,
Rome down 11% to £105
and Madrid down 10% to
£78. Elsewhere, Cairo and
Jerusalem both had a
slide of 11% to £78 and £118
respectively.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
44

Table 22 Where prices at top-end hotels fell the most between
2012 and 2011
Destination Star Rating 2012 2011 % Change
Guangzhou £130 £187 -30%
Buenos Aires £262 £328 -20%
Zurich £145 £175 -17%
Venice £214 £256 -16%
Biarritz £118 £135 -13%
Cancun £238 £274 -13%
Washington DC £175 £199 -12%
Mumbai £136 £154 -12%
Milan £102 £114 -11%
Cairo £78 £87 -11%
Oslo £163 £182 -11%
Jerusalem £118 £132 -11%
Rome £105 £117 -11%
Madrid £78 £87 -10%
Jakarta £77 £86 -10%
Budapest £96 £106 -10%
Vienna £144 £160 -10%
Frankfurt £158 £175 -10%
Barcelona £175 £194 -10%
Geneva £327 £359 -9%
Amsterdam £110 £121 -9%
Vancouver £230 £252 -9%
Buenos Aires £93 £101 -8%
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
45

9
Paris
TRAVEL HABITS
Top overseas
destinations for UK
travellers
Paris ousted New York
from its No 1 slot as the
most popular overseas
destination for the first
time as more UK travellers
chose to stay closer to
home in 2012.
There was one newcomer
with Budapest entered
the chart at No 20 as
Singapore dropped out of
the running.
Dublin was the fastest
riser, climbing five places to
No 3, with Madrid at No 10
and Istanbul at No 16, both
up four.
Hong Kong lost popularity,
sliding five places to
No 18, with Venice and
Prague both down four
places to No 12 and No 19
respectively.
All five US destinations
in the chart lost ground,
perhaps as a result of
rising prices in the country.
As well as New York, San
Francisco at No 11 and
Orlando at No 13 both
dropped one slot each, Las
Vegas fell two to No 5 and
Los Angeles three to No 14.
Apart from Bangkok which
was up two slots to No 15,
it was primarily European
destinations with their
falling prices, such as
Barcelona and Brussels
that rose to fill the gaps.
Top UK destinations
for overseas travellers
There was virtually no
change in the table of
top UK destinations for
overseas travellers with
the first nine holding onto
their 2011 places. The only
newcomer was Aberdeen
taking over from Oxford at
No 10.
It is hardly surprising that
London held onto its No 1
position as 2012 was such
a momentous year for the
capital as it celebrated the
Diamond Jubilee and the
Olympic Games.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
46

New York
Table 23 Top overseas destinations for UK
travellers in 2012
Rank Destination
1 Paris
2 New York
3 Dublin
4 Amsterdam
5 Las Vegas
6 Rome
7 Barcelona
8 Berlin
9 Dubai
10 Madrid
Rank Destination
11 San Francisco
12 Venice
13 Orlando
14 Los Angeles
15 Bangkok
16 Istanbul
17 Brussels
18 Hong Kong
19 Prague
20 Budapest
Table 24 Top UK destinations
for overseas travellers in 2012
Rank Destination
1 London
2 Edinburgh
3 Manchester
4 Liverpool
5 Glasgow
6 Birmingham
7 Belfast
8 Brighton
9 Bristol
10 Aberdeen
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
50

10
TRAVEL TALK
New York never
sleeps, to the joy of
global travellers
Whether suffering from
insomnia or just needing a
big night out: New York is
the city to visit for nightlife,
according to a recent
survey by the hotels expert
Hotels.com. The survey,
which questioned 27,000
travellers from around
the world, shows that the
Big Apple is globally the
most favoured city when
it comes to night-time
entertainment.
While gamblers’
paradise Las Vegas is
the globetrotters’ second
favourite choice, London
beat off some strong
competition to come in at
a very respectable third
place.
The survey also reveals
that six out of the Top
Ten cities are in Europe.
As well as London;
Paris, Barcelona, Berlin,
Amsterdam and Madrid
all make it into the world’s
favourite list showing that
Europe is the clubbing
continent of choice. Los
Angeles and Bangkok
completed the Top Ten.
“New York and Las
Vegas always provide an
amazing travel adventure.
But it is the variety
amongst the European
cities that makes them so
interesting and exciting for
travellers from all around
the globe,” said Alison
Couper from Hotels.com.
“There are many different
experiences to be gained
on the continent, whether
it’s a night out in the
infamous clubs of Berlin,
the floating restaurants in
Amsterdam or the small,
intimate bars and music
venues of Paris, although
it’s nice to see that London
is coming in above even
these notorious party
capitals!”
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
48

London first in taxi
rank
London cabs were voted
the best taxis in the world
for the fifth year in a row
in 2012, according to the
annual global taxi survey
from Hotels.com. London
claimed 11% of the votes,
followed by New York with
6.4% and Tokyo with 5.6%.
Travellers voted in seven
categories, of which
London’s iconic black cabs,
that have been around in
some form since the 17th
century, led in five. These
included friendliness,
knowledge of the area,
cleanliness, safety and
quality of driving. However,
the classic black taxis were
also voted worst for value.
Bangkok topped the list
for best value while New
York pipped London to
the post as the best city
for availability with their
famous yellow cabs.
Taxis in Asian countries
rose in popularity, with
Tokyo, Shanghai and
Bangkok all qualifying for
coveted spots in the top
five.
The Hotels.com taxi survey
also revealed some of the
unconventional activities
that travellers from around
the world get up to on their
taxi journeys, including
falling asleep (56%), kissing
in the backseat (26%) and
touching up hair/makeup
(19%).
The UK has been revealed
as one of the most
frisky nations, with 13%
confessing to ‘becoming
amorous’ in the back of a
cab, which is well above
the global average of 6%.
The survey also revealed
some of the strange items
left behind in UK cabs
including an accordion,
knickers and condoms!
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
49

London
Home-from-Hotel
Global travellers are looking
for a home-from-home
experience when they stay
in a hotel according to the
latest research from
leading online
accommodation booking
service,
Hotels.com. Topping the list
of must-have hotel
amenities are free Wi-Fi
and free food and
beverages, with caffeine
being a must. All the rest is
just, well... extra.
Staying Connected…for
Free
34% say free Wi-Fi is the
number one factor in
choosing a hotel, even on
leisure stays.
56% of respondents said
free Wi-Fi was their
number one musthave
when travelling for
business.
66% indicated free Wi-Fi
is the amenity they most
wish would become
standard at all hotels in
2013.
Free Wi-Fi trumps
both free parking and
complimentary breakfast
when it comes to choosing
a hotel for both leisure and
business travel, showing
that access to the online
world is a necessity for
modern-day travellers with
over a third still looking to
stay connected whilst on
their holidays. In fact just
11% of global travellers said
they would be willing to
pay for Wi-Fi when staying
in a hotel.
The Perk of New
Technology: Favourite
“Modern” In-Room
Amenity
It would seem that the
technological creature
comforts of home are
also high on the priority
list for travellers with
23% choosing high-end
coffee makers as their
top modern in hotel
room amenity. Totally
wired rooms which are
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
50

completely controlled
by one remote for any
need took 20% of the vote.
Guests also indicated they
would like to enjoy that
much-wanted free Wi-Fi
on hotel-provided tablets
for guest information, room
service and local guides.
It’s the Little Things that
Count: Most Appreciated
Simple Amenity
Keeping hydrated when
travelling is important
to hotel guests with 43%
choosing complimentary
bottled water as the
most appreciated simple
amenity. Only respondents
from Taiwan, Hong Kong
and Brazil rated free power
adaptors above bottled
water.
The Way to Hotel Guests’
Hearts – Through Their
Stomachs!
Free breakfast ranked as
the favourite (31%) non-tech
item global travellers want
to see become standard at
all hotels in 2013.
Happy hours, wine tastings
or any other time with free
food and drinks is 42% of
global travellers’ favourite
newly offered hotel service
amenity, with international
breakfast options coming
in second (19%).
Travellers cite unlimited
free food and beverages
as their most (23%) missed
comfort from home when
travelling. Another 14%
said they miss access to
cooking in their kitchen the
most.
Five-Star Life: The Highs
and Lows of Luxury Perks
26% say their favourite
amenity while staying at a
luxury hotel is the high end
fitness centre and/or spa,
while designer toiletries
also rank highly (21%).
While travellers enjoy their
time living the highlife, the
promotion of bath menus/
bath butlers (26%) and
turn down service (24%) as
amenities simply aren’t
of interest according to
survey respondents.
More than half of
respondents (54%) chose
the complimentary use
of a Rolls Royce Phantom
as the “outrageous” luxury
hotel amenity they’d most
like to experience. No real
surprise there!
The surreal car ride
beat out access to a
tea sommelier (9%),
in-room mixologist (5%),
and fragrance butler
(5%) among other lesser
desired extreme amenities.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
51

HOTELS.COM
HIGHLIGHTS
OF 2012
2012 was a significant year
for Hotels.com with the
company passing several
important milestones and
achieving noteworthy
results.
• In February, we unveiled
our new global branding
with a new colourful and
bold logo, straplines and
advertising. Over the past
twenty years, Hotels.
com has evolved from
a phone-based sales
company, to a primarily
web-based enterprise
and now to a global,
fully integrated web,
phone, social and mobilebooking
business. It was
therefore felt that our
branding should reflect
our position as a global
industry leader.
• Welcome Rewards,
the loyalty rewards
programme for
Hotels.com guests,
launched two new levels
bringing added benefits,
with Silver membership
reached by booking 10
nights in a year and Gold
with 30 nights.
• We launched apps for
the Windows 7 and 8
platforms to join our
portfolio of mobile apps
for iPhone, Android and
tablet. Collectively, Hotels.
com apps have been
downloaded around the
world 15 million times
since their launch in 2011.
• During the year, we
launched two new
websites: a Spanish
version in the US for
our Hispanic customers
and a site in Hebrew
to complement our
existing English one in
Israel, demonstrating
our commitment to
bringing the Hotels.com
experience closer to our
customers by providing
more sites with localised,
highly relevant and
compelling content.
• Our UK site reached its
tenth anniversary during
the year. It was the first
international Hotels.com
website launched in 2002
and continues to be one
of our most important.
• Hotels.com has won
numerous awards over
the years and 2012
brought a bumper crop.
• ByteLevel recognised
Hotels.com as a Top 5
Best Global Website
for 2012. The ByteLevel
report card evaluated
websites on global reach,
global navigation, global/
mobile architecture and
localisation and social
efforts.
• Hotels.com was once
again named Best
Overall Customer
Experience, according
to a study by Keynote
Competitive Research,
in the US and also won
Best Brand Impact in the
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
52

UK, in addition to ranking
second for Best Overall
Customer Experience,
Conversion Impact and
Customer Satisfaction.
• Also in the UK, Hotels.
com was officially
named a CoolBrand in an
influential annual survey
to identify the country’s
coolest brands.
• In Russia, Hotels.com
won the Best Booking
Engine category in
the inaugural Moya
Planeta awards and was
shortlisted in the Best
Mobile App section.
• At year end, we also
learned that Hotels.com
in the UK, as part of the
wider Expedia.com Ltd
family, was amongst
the Top 100 Best Places
to Work with the
highest possible 3-star
accreditation status,
according to the annual
Sunday Times survey.
15 MILLION
Hotels.com mobile apps downloaded
7 MILLION
Customer reviews from guests who have actually stayed in the hotels
200,000
Bookable properties available on the site
85+
Localised Hotels.com websites around the world
35
Languages

ABOUT
HOTELS.COM
Hotels.com is a leading
online accommodation
booking website with
almost 200,000 properties
around the world, ranging
from international chains
and all-inclusive resorts to
local favourites and bed &
breakfasts, together with all
the information needed to
book the perfect stay. There
are more than 85 Hotels.
com sites worldwide in
Europe, North, Central and
South America, Asia Pacific,
the Middle East and South
Africa, the majority of which
are in localised languages.
The first international site
was launched in the UK in
2002 and the latest addition
was the Hebrew site in 2012.
Hotels.com benefits from
one of the largest hotel
contracting teams in
the industry, negotiating
the best rates for its
customers, and offers
frequent sales, special deals
and promotions. Regular
customer e-newsletters
provide exclusive offers
and advance warning of
up-coming sales. There are
more than seven million
reviews on the site from
users who have actually
stayed in the hotels to
ensure customers can
make an informed choice
when booking.
Through its industryleading
loyalty programme
Welcome Rewards
available in all markets,
customers can earn a free
night for every 10 nights
stayed at more than
85,000 hotels, subject to
Welcome Rewards terms
and conditions, as set out
at www.hotels.com. Under
its Price Match Guarantee,
if a customer can find a
lower price on a prepaid
hotel, Hotels.com will refund
the difference, subject to
the Price Match terms and
conditions set out on www.
hotels.com.
Travellers can book online
or by contacting one of the
multilingual call centres.
Special apps for mobile
phones and tablets can also
be downloaded at www.
hotels.com/deals/mobile
enabling customers to book
on the go with access to
20,000 last minute deals.
Hotels.com is part of
Expedia Inc., the largest
online travel company in
the world with an extensive
portfolio that includes some
of the world’s best-known
brands. Follow Hotels.com
on Facebook, Twitter and on
YouTube.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
54

FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION
For more information, press
enquiries or spokespeople
for any global region, please
contact Hotels.com at:
press@hotels.co.uk
+44 020 7019 2428
Yvonne Bonanati
Kate Hopcraft
Zoe Chan
Laura Watts
Alison Couper
Lizann Peppard
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
55

Global Hotel Price Changes
2012-2011
Sydney
Stockholm
St Petersburg
Singapore
Sharm El Sheikh
Shanghai
Seoul
Rome
Rio de Jeneiro
Riga
Reykjavik
Phuket
Phnom Penh
Perth
Taipei
Paris
Tallinn
Oslo
Tokyo
60%
50%
40%
30%
New York
Toronto
New Orleans
Vienna
20%
10%
Muscat
Munich
Vilnius
-10%
0%
Mumbai
Warsaw
-20%
-30%
Zurich
-40%
Moscow
£200
£190
£180
£170
£160
£150
£140
£130
£120
£110
£100
£90
£80
£70
£60
£50
£40
£200
£190
£180
£170
£160
£150
£140
£130
£120
£110
£100
£90
£80
£70
£60
£50
£40
Abu Dhabi
-30%
-40%
Monte Carlo
Milan
Athens
Amsterdam
0%
-10%
-20%
Mexico City
Bangkok
20%
10%
Marrakech
Barcelona
Beijing
60%
50%
40%
30%
Madrid
London
Berlin
Kyoto
Bogota
Krakow
Boston
Buenos Aires
Cairo
Cape Town
Copenhagen
Dubai
Dublin
Frankfurt
Geneva
Hanoi
Helsinki
Ho Chi Minh City
Hong Kong
Kiev

1
© 2013 Hotels.com, L.P. The Hotel Price Index (HPI ® ), this report and its contents are the copyright of Hotels.com, L.P. All rights reserved.
Any reproduction of this report or its content must acknowledge www.hotels.com as the source.
The Hotel Price Index review of global hotel prices: The Jan Hotel - Dec Price 2012Index
review of global hotel prices: Jan - Dec 2012
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