World's 10 most expensive cities for a hotel stay
Good news for some hoteliers, bad news for travellers on a budget; international corporate services company Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) has reported a 4% rate growth for hotels around the world in the first half of 2011 (January to June) compared with the same period last year.
Of the 50 cities surveyed, 33 reported a year-on-year increase in hotel rates with strong growth in Asia and an unexpected boost from Istanbul.
Guests looking for a cheaper stay this year however should head to Africa and Eastern Europe, where many cities showed year-on-year decreases in rates over six months, except Moscow that is - which bucks the trend having been ranked number one - the world's most expensive city for a hotel stopover.
Click through to the next pages to find out which cities made it onto the top 10 most expensive 2011 list and how much an average night's stay will set a guest back:
1. Moscow
As the world’s most expensive city for a hotel stopover, a night’s stay at a Moscow hotel will set you back a hefty average US $420.09 per night. Well, that's 1% less than it would have cost in the same period last year at least.
2. Geneva
You’d certainly be expecting a room with a view for your money in Geneva, where the average per-night room rate is $366.68.
3. Zurich
Zurich was an expensive place for a hotel stay last year at $304.62 per night, but this year it may be considered extortionate as average rates have risen 17% to $356.03.
4. Paris
It may well be the “city of love”, but we bet guests don’t love paying $335.38 on average per a stopover.
5. Stockholm
These days, Stockholm is known for it beauty, architecture, many picturesque parks, and being the world’s fifth most expensive city for a hotel stay at $326 on average a night – a 10% increase on last year’s rates.
6. Washington
We guess you expect to pay more when staying in the capital of the United States of America, but at $320.65 a night, that is one dear city, with a capital DC!
7. Sydney
Ranked one of the top 10 “most livable cities in the world” by The Economist, we’re not convinced we could rank Sydney as one of the “most short stay-able” when a hotel room will set you back on average $318.30 per night.
8. Istanbul
This year, guests are more than willing to hand over their hard-earned cash to stay in the only metropolis in the world situated on two continents, Istanbul. Yes, they’ve paid on average $316.19 a night. That’s a whopping 24% increase on last year’s rates.
9. New York City
It may be in the 10 most expensive cities in the world for a hotel stay, but at least New York City is consistently pricey. There’s been no change in the city’s $312.73 average per-night room rate between this year and last.
10. Oslo
Guests to the capital of Norway may find themselves exclaiming “no way!” when they receive their hotel bills, with an average per-night room rate increase of 11% this year to $312.50.
HRG’s full year survey is based on a combination of industry intelligence, actual room nights booked and rates paid by its UK clients during January to June 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.