Hotel rates are rising in all but a handful of destinations worldwide, according to the latest analysis by hotel solutions provider HRS.
In Europe, room rates in key cities rose by an average of 9% from the third quarter of 2014 to 2015, compared with a rise of just 2% between 2013 and 2014.
The UK, meanwhile, has seen an average increase of 16% across the nine major cities, with the biggest rise (31%) in Cardiff.
For the first time, Bristol emerged as the third most expensive place to stay following a 17% increase in average rate.
Major sporting events
“In Cardiff, major sporting events such as the Rugby World Cup (RWC) and The Ashes which took place during Q3 2015, will have contributed to the room rate increases as hoteliers capitalise on the surge in demand from visitors,” said Jon West, MD of HRS for the UK and Ireland.
“Indeed RWC matches played in Cardiff, Gloucester and Exeter could have driven demand for rooms in the area, meaning that Bristol benefited too. This could be one of the reasons why it has moved into the top three most expensive places to stay in the UK. Looking at the UK as a whole, room rates are remaining buoyant as business and leisure travellers continue to have a rise in confidence when it comes to spending,” he added.
Boston and New York share top spot
Across the Atlantic, New York, which had previously held the top spot, found itself sharing this position with Boston, which saw an increase in room rates of a whopping 35%.
New York’s rates also grew by nearly 30%.
In Asia, Tokyo saw a 35% rise in room rates, but on the whole Asia remains keenly priced, with Kuala Lumpur costing just £50 per night.
