January 2011 Hotel Rate Report released

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal. – The New Hotel Rate Report has beed released today.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal. – The New Hotel Rate Report has beed released today. The report features the top five cities in North America where hotel rates have dropped the most and the top five cities where rates have experienced the biggest price increase. While one report guides customers to the destinations that will maximize their travel dollars, the other highlights places where using Hotwire to save money will be even more essential.

Top Five Price Drops:

The New Year kicks off with the debut of Flagstaff, Arizona; Key West, Florida; and Albuquerque, New Mexico on the top five price drop list with 12, 11 and eight percent drops, respectively. The stronger than normal winter storms this year have caused some delays on tourism in certain parts of North America. As a result, hoteliers are dropping rates in various cities to attract travelers.

January is traditionally a slow time of year for Flagstaff, but tourism is slower than normal this winter. Surrounded by natural wonders like Grand Canyon National Park, Flagstaff offers more than 200 restaurants, numerous night spots and a variety of cultural, historic and scientific attractions. The clean mountain air, year-round outdoor recreation opportunities and Western legacy are all part of the city’s charm.

Key West is experiencing a decrease in travel due to many of their eastern snowbirds being stuck in the snow, literally. Additionally, Key West hotels have to compete with Miami’s peak travel season and its return as a hotspot for convention business this month. As a result, they are dropping prices. The Florida Keys boasts year round warm weather, making it an ideal destination to fish, scuba dive or snorkel.

Albuquerque, New Mexico also makes its first appearance on the list due to the affects of the winter storms. With many outdoor activities to offer, explore the Sandia Mountains aboard the Sandia Peak Tramway, the world’s largest aerial tramway transporting tourists above deep canyons and breathtaking terrain. Travelers can also ski and snowboard at the area’s top ski resorts.

When compared to the same time last year, the top five hotel price reductions for January 2011 include:

Rank
Hotel Market
Price Drops
Example of a Current Hotwire Deal, US$/Night

1
Flagstaff, AZ
– 12%
3-star
$83

2
Key West, FL
– 11%
3.5-star
$125

3
Albuquerque, NM
– 8%
3.5-star
$75

4
Reno, NV
– 6%
4-star
$60

5
Salt Lake City, UT
– 6%
4-star
$79

Top Five Price Increases:

Sun-filled destinations top the list this month, including the number one and two locations, Honolulu and Miami, with 20 and 18 percent price increases, respectively. Hawaii is sparking an increase in leisure travel this month through various air promotions. That means competition is high for the destination’s inventory of hotel rooms, which drives up pricing.

As noted above, this month is also peak travel season for Miami, which climbed two spots from last month. Hotels are filled to capacity as the city continues to hold business conventions, and host popular leisure events such as Art Deco Weekend and the Orange Bowl.

Last month’s number one city for price increases, Providence, drops to number three with a 17 percent price gain. Rounding out the list are two popular Canadian cities at the fourth and fifth spots, Montreal and Toronto, with 17 and 16 percent price increases, respectively.

When compared to the same time last year, the top five hotel price increases for January 2011 include:

Rank
Hotel Market
Price Increases
Example of a Current Hotwire Deal, US$/Night

1
Honolulu, HI
20%
3.5-star
$118

2
Miami, FL
18%
4-star
$95

3
Providence, RI
17%
3.5-star
$76

4
Montreal, QC
17%
3.5-star
$89

5
Toronto, ON
16%
3.5-star
$99

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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