Hotels in Europe are Lowering their Prices Due to the Weak Economy says HotelConnect

European hotels have began to lower their prices for the holiday season to try to draw more customers who are avoiding going on a holiday because of the rising prices of airfares and the slowdown of the economy.  The accommodation provider HotelConnect said that about half of their hotels are lowering their prices during the months of July and August by about 10% to 15%.  These reductions have come since the amount of occupancies have fallen around many European hotels now that holidaymakers are taking breaks in the United Kingdom or somewhere outside of Europe, like Turkey and Egypt.  The sales figures of HotelConnect have shown that the outside destinations are growing strongly, like Budapest, which is up 33% in growth.  The destination hotels within the European zone have slipped in places like Amsterdam and Rome, which are down by 18% and 12% respectively.

HotelConnect’s commercial manager, Ian Ackland, said that some hotels are starting to notice the Euro’s impact on the levels of occupancy, thankfully.  The reductions in rates are essential in keeping people interest in traveling to European destinations.  The hotel partners of the online operator are encouraging the reduction of prices for the summer and the fall since the destinations in Europe continuously suffer from the reduced occupancies.  He also noted that they are advising hotels not to rely on selling inventory at a moments notice, because there will just be too much of it.  Ackland added further that hotels in the city are looking ahead by only 8 to 10 weeks when they should really look ahead by 3 or more months.

For more information on HotelConnect, visit their website at:  www.hotelconnect.com