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Melbourne pub rates war
TRAVELCONSUMERDAILY.COM A TEMPORARY glut of hotel rooms in Melbourne is expected to lead to a bonanza for consumers as prices fall and hoteliers battle to fill their inventories. Autralian industry news service Travel Today reports that hoteliers are expecting room rates in the Melbourne central business district to drop by up to 15% in the next 12-18 months, with almost 3000 extra rooms entering the market this year. Mantra Group director of sales and revenue Kent Davidson said the new rooms, led by Australia's largest hotel, the 600-room Crown Metropole opening in May, would lead to a price war as hotels scramble to fill beds. "Hotel operators are anticipating a 10-15% (in revenue per available room) in the next financial year," Davidson told the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo in Melbourne. Following the opening of the Hilton South Wharf and the re-opened Intercontinental Rialto last year, 2010 sees the new hotel trend continuing unabated, Travel Today reports. The new Travelodge in the city’s Docklands area opened last month and the Citadines Melbourne on Bourke is scheduled add another 380 rooms in July. Davidson said he anticipated the demand matching supply within 12 to 18 months when prices would rise again. Comment on this article |