Mid Easterners pay most for UK hotels

Middle Eastern guests visiting the UK fork out most for hotels, according to a new survey by Hotels.com.

ME guests paid on average £172 per room per night in 2012 despite paying 3% less in 2011.

This was well ahead of Brazil, the nation in second place in the survey, which spent an average of £138.

The average paid by international visitors at UK hotels across the board was £100.

Japanese visitors paid an average of £132 last year, with guests from Mexico and Argentina both paying £130.

Of the 39 nations surveyed, 34 paid less for rooms last year than in 2011, four paid the same and only Japan paid more with a small rise of 1%.

London was the top UK destination for travellers followed by Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.

“The UK also offered great value in 2012, with the average hotel room costing just £100 a night,” said Kate Hopcraft of Hotels.com, commenting on the UK’s Olympic year. “From the opening of the Titanic museum in Belfast to the Diamond Jubilee and Summer of Sport, the UK once again proved itself a world class destination.

“However, with some visitors – the Chinese in particular – finding it difficult to apply for a visa, the UK risks deterring some of the biggest spenders if changes are not made to make it easier for entry into the country.”