Tourism minister dismisses latest survey highlighting high-priced Olympic hotels
Tourism Minister John Penrose has dismissed the suggestion that London hotels are overpricing themselves during the Olympics and Paralympics.
He made his views known to Caterer and Hotelkeeper on the day that online booking company Hotels.com announced that the average price for a hotel room in London during the Olympic period was £213 a night, an increase of 102% year-on-year.
"In the run-up to an event like the Olympics in a city of the size of London there will always be the odd hotel that will have a go at increasing prices," Penrose said. "But in my view, with the additional release of rooms from LOCOG on to the market, you will find that the average price of London hotel rooms during the Olympics are at a very reasonable level indeed - as you would expect for any high-season period.
"I wouldn't want the isolated high prices that are being quoted to undermine the general fair pricing that is out there."
Penrose also pointed out that VisitEngland's new Holidays at Home are GREAT campaign would be offering hotel savings of at least 20.12% throughout the year.
The BHA urges businesses to support VisitEngland campaign >>
Inflated hotel prices during Olympics may deter visitors >>
London 2012 - price your rooms fairly >>
By Janet Harmer
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