The Hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI) shows a three per cent increase in North America
Hotel prices in Canada and the United States continued to increase in the first half of 2013, up three per cent when compared to the same period last year according to the Hotels.com® Hotel Price Index ™ (HPI™). With an average global price increase of two per cent, North America’s performance is strong although still shy of 2011 and the first half of 2012 when the rate of growth was at five per cent.
“Canada is continuing to invest in its travel sector and the increase in current hotel prices is a direct reflection of that,” says Jennifer Drew, director market management Hotels.com. “Whether it’s due to a lack of vacation time or an increase in travellers opting to drive to their vacation destinations, domestic travel has become a popular option for many Canadians. That said, although accommodation costs may be slightly higher, they’re still lower than the peak of 2007 and deals can be found at home and abroad.”
Provincial overview
The top performers included two provinces and one territory in the first half of 2013 with Yukon recording the highest increase at seven per cent year-over-year for an average of $136 per night. This was followed by Saskatchewan, up five per cent ($150); and Newfoundland, up four per cent ($179).
Top Canadian performers
Not surprisingly, Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal continued to dominate in 2013 as the most popular cities for domestic and international travellers. Toronto was number one for both, but Montreal and Vancouver switched spots with Montreal in second for domestic travellers and Vancouver shining as a favourite for international visitors.
Average prices paid in each of the top three cities ranged from $144 to $154 with Montreal showing the highest rates. Another popular destination, the scenic Lake Louise, held the top spot for most expensive Canadian destination with a three per cent increase and average prices sitting at $289.
Spending trends
Canadians saved around $9 a night when travelling domestically and paid an average daily hotel rate of $143, compared to the $152 they paid for international travel. When it came to international visitors, three of the countries spending the most on hotel accommodation in Canada were Asian and included the Philippines, Singapore and Japan. Tourists from these countries spent an average of $184, $179 and $178 per night, respectively.
Best value
Canadian travellers craving an exotic locale without the hefty price tag could find great deals in Asia. Cambodia topped the list with average daily hotel prices of $60, followed by Vietnam at $73 and Thailand and the Philippines at $99.
If you’d prefer to stay local and skip the long flights, there are also great options in Canada like Merritt, Saanichton and Langley in British Columbia which had average daily hotel rates at less than $100 a night.
