Average Hotel Room Rates Rose 5 Percent in 2011 in North America, According to the hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI)

DALLAS, March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hotels.com®, the expert in online hotel booking and home to more than 20,000 hotel destinations worldwide, released its biannual Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®), reporting on the most popular travel destinations and the average price paid by travelers while visiting those destinations.

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The HPI is a regular survey of hotel prices in major city destinations across the world, based on hotels.com bookings. Prices reported are those actually paid by customers (rather than advertised rates) during the calendar year of 2011. On a global scale, hotel prices increased by 4 percent on average in 2011 over 2010, while average prices in North America increased 5 percent year-over-year, continuing the process of steady recovery from the lows of 2008. Entering the third consecutive year of moderate price rises for guests, the global average price is still lower than it was in 2005, such was the depth of the financial crash-inspired trough.

Where Do Americans Travel?

According to the HPI, Americans repeatedly visit their top three favorite domestic cities: New York City, Las Vegas and Orlando. But, when U.S. citizens present their passports for international travel, where are they going?

Multiple Asian cities saw an increase of American travelers in 2011 despite the region's overall 2 percent decrease in hotel prices. Hong Kong became the seventh most visited city by Americans in 2011, right after the perennial top international cities including, London (first), Paris (second), Toronto (fourth) and Montreal (sixth). Chinese cities like Shanghai (18^th), with hotel prices down 8 percent to $130; Beijing, China's capitol where room rates increased 6 percent to $120; and Bangkok (up to 17^th from 24^th) are seeing increased popularity. Singapore, Seoul and Taipei also all saw a rise in American visitors. For the first time, Taipei, Taiwan entered the list at number 49. Below is the list of the top 10 international cities U.S. travelers enjoy frequenting.

Top 10 International Cities visited by U.S. Travelers:

"The HPI is a thermometer measuring the global temperature of the travel industry," said Victor Owens, vice president and general manager, Hotels.com North America. "As destinations wax and wane in popularity; as anticipated events occur and pass; as seasons come and go, hotels.com data measures and reports the general trends these annual occurrences leave in their wake. The HPI tells us what is popular, what is trending, and what is on an upswing or decline."

Where Do International Travelers Stay When in the U.S.?

By welcoming more than 50.5 million tourists in 2011, New York City again ranks as the number one destination for foreign travelers to visit in the U.S. The "underdog" city to push its way back into the top 10 most popular U.S. destinations for international visitors is Washington D.C. Other noteworthy American destinations that moved up the list include: Key West (18^th from 21^st) , Brooklyn (31^st from 45^th), Detroit (29^th from 40^th), Santa Barbara (34^th from 38^th) and the Atlantic City (30^th from 35^th).

Top Ten U.S. Cities for International Visitors:

Hotels.com Knows Hotels and Luxury

Where are the most affordable international cities travelers can enjoy lavish accommodations while soaking in the scenery? Based on the HPI data, hotels.com identified the 10 international cities where a five-star hotel would cost the least. In 2011, Warsaw, Poland, Marrakech, Morocco and Cairo, Egypt offered the highest rated hotels for the lowest prices, with five-star properties in these cities selling at an average daily rate of less than $190. 

As always, price changes year-over-year were influenced by global events. Average five-star room rates in Cairo dropped 6 percent between 2010 and 2011, undoubtedly a result of the Arab Spring revolution and its effect on tourism. Another significant price change occurred in Cape Town, South Africa, site of the 2010 World Cup. Between 2010 and 2011, hotel prices deflated in Cape Town after World Cup tourism had ended, and five-star room rates dropped 24 percent year-over-year. New cities rounding out the top 10 include Pisa, Italy and Brussels, Belgium, indicating a possible new trend of affordability for European destinations.

Affordable Luxury: International Five-Star Room Rates

Most and Least Expensive Destinations in the United States

The demand for travel to New York City, Honolulu, Boston and Miami would naturally drive prices a little higher hence marking them as the most expensive U.S. cities to visit. Travelers will continue to flock to these cities in droves, yet there are still deals to be found. For travelers seeking a low budget, but charming experience, the south is home to the four most affordable (and sweet as Pecan pie) destinations.

The HPI reveals where people travel to when they want to explore their passions, where travelers can snag five-star rooms for under $100 and also serves as a price guide to hotel comparison shopping when traveling globally so travelers can find the perfect place to stay while away from home.

For the full report, featuring infographics, detailed maps, colorful photos and a city-by-city breakdown, visit: www.hotel-price-index.com.

Press contacts:

Meghan Callaghan – Finn Partners for hotels.com

Phone: (212) 715 - 1608

Email: [email protected]

Taylor L. Cole, APR

hotels.com North America

Phone: (469) 335-8442

Email: [email protected]

Visit www.hotels.com, call 1-800-2-hotels, use our mobile apps, or visit us on Facebook to find hotel deals and seasonal travel sales. Other news, images and infographics are available at our media room: http://press.hotels.com/en-us/.

About the HPI®

The HPI tracks the real prices paid per room by hotels.com customers around the world using a weighted average based on the number of rooms sold in each of the markets that hotels.com operates. The index started in 2004, and includes all bookings across the almost 149,000 properties in over 60 countries that make up the sample set of hotels from which prices are taken.

About hotels.com

Hotels.com® is a leading provider of lodging worldwide, offering almost 149,000 properties in over 60 countries from national chain hotels and all-inclusive resorts to local favorites and bed & breakfasts. Hotels.com is the smarter way to book travel by offering Welcome Rewards™, an industry leading loyalty rewards program; the real opinions of other travelers captured in over three million Guest Reviews and; a Price Match Guarantee, so that those booking with hotels.com can be assured they are getting the best deal, either online or by speaking directly to a travel expert at 1-800-2-HOTELS 24 hours a day. For more information, please visit hotels.com. Hotels.com is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE). Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hotelsdotcom and Twitter via www.twitter.com/hotelsdotcom or visit the hotels.com Travel Smart Blog for consumer and business travel information. Download the mobile app here: http://www.hotels.com/deals/mobile_app/. Detailed Hotel Price Index data is available at: http://www.hotel-price-index.com, hotels.com, Finding You The Perfect Place™.

Hotels.com, Hotel Price Index, HPI, Finding You The Perfect Place and the Hotels.com logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotels.com, LP. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. © 2012 Hotels.com, LP. All rights reserved. CST # 2083949-50

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