London Mayor Slams Olympic Hotel Price Hikes

Hotelier Middle East: London Mayor Boris Johnson has slammed hotels which are looking to cash in on the 2012 Olympics by dramatically escalating prices.

It is felt that significant escalations in rates could mar the response to the games, but reports in The Times and The Sunday Times both highlighted significant price rises in a number of properties in the build up to next year’s event.

Johnson said “hiking up prices” and taking advantage of London's guests in 2012 was “just wrong”.

“I urge all right-thinking hoteliers to distance themselves from these sharks and get in line now to sign up to Visit Britain's fair price charter," he said.

Games officials made available 6.6 million Olympic tickets to the public last week, but due to a complex ballot system of ticket allocation, there are already complaints from United States and Japanese tour operators that they are “finding it impossible to secure hotel space at viable rates and terms.”

LOCOG chairman Lord Coe joined Johnson’s criticism and warned hotels that over-pricing would backfire because tourists would find themselves more economical accommodation.