As reported by the latest Global Hotel Price Index (HPI), hotel rates in the global context showed an increase of 4% during the first half of 2012.
Despite this rise in prices, it should be noted that these figures are still lower than those recorded in the first half of 2007, when the HPI was at its peak, 119.
By region, the figures were recorded: a rise of 6% in the Pacific, 5% in North America and 4% in Asia, while in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East they experienced a less accelerated growth, of 1%.
As highlighted by David Roche, president of Hoteles.com, "the hotel industry recovered, in the first half of this year, from a large number of natural disasters and political crises that occurred in 2011, so it is encouraging to see this growth in the sector."
Likewise, the executive warned that while initially they may not seem good news for consumers, "hotel prices are back at the levels of 2005, when most wages and other prices have increased considerably since then, so this is a great opportunity for consumers."
In the United States, this increase is marked by the increase in the number of business trips and the increase in consumer spending, which produced a higher occupancy rate without the need for hoteliers to implement discount strategies.
"The first six months of 2012 show a promising trajectory for most hotels. However, the second half of the year, with more and more varied economic movements, promises to be interesting. Our Hotel Price Index offers consumers good guidance on where to optimize their travel budget, no matter how external influences are impacting pricing," Roche explained.
