The positive impression that London gained as a result of last years successful Olympic and Paralympic games is still enduring, with the capital city’s hotels reporting increased demand.
Hotels.com, a hotel booking service with online and telephone operations, has reported that compared to last year, searches on its website for London-based hotels are up by 53 percent for next week’s half-term holiday, despite the 2012 figure being positively influenced by the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Visitors to London are reaping a two-fold benefit of enjoying hotel facilities that were either new or renovated for last year’s events, and competitive room prices due to more rooms having come onto the market and a drop in corporate demand.
In its Hotel Price Index, Hotels.com noted that room prices in London fell by 3 percent last year compared with 2011, to an average of GBP126 per night.
The company’s figures appear to indicate that London’s attraction to overseas visitors, 15.5 million of whom descended on the capital last year, is being replicated by British travellers who are extending their stays in London from cheaper day trips to overnight and weekend visits.
Speaking on behalf of Hotels.com, Alison Couper said, ‘London’s year in the spotlight has undoubtedly impacted how the city is viewed worldwide. With a legacy of new and improved hotels and tourist attractions, London is front-of-mind for many people planning a trip away this year. Offering great value for money, London hoteliers are hoping the city could see visitor numbers rise, providing a welcome boost to the UK’s economy.’
London’s visitor season will be given an early boost this weekend when supporters from two of Germany’s major football clubs, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, arrive in the city en mass for tomorrows Champions League final at Wembley Stadium. 150,000 German fans are expected to arrive in the city, despite the stadium only having a capacity of 90,000. Hotels.com has reported that German searches for London hotels have shot up by 296 percent.
