/sites/default/files/upload/eqjd_platform.pdfHOTELS REJECT HOTELS.COM PRICE CLAIMS AS OUTRAGEOUS
- Cheap publicity shot by Hotels.com is irresponsible and misleading
- Central Statistics Office figures show inflation in accommodation services down at -1.1% for the twelve months to July 2013 and at 0% for the twelve months to June 2013
- People should shop around for excellent value on offer by Irish hotels and guesthouses
Tuesday, 10th September 2013: Hoteliers today rejected as outrageous claims by Hotels.com that the average hotel price in Ireland has increased. Figures from the Central Statistics Office which are based on a nationally representative sample of prices show that inflation in accommodation services was at 0% for the twelve months to June 2013 and was in fact down at -1.1% for the twelve months to July 2013. (See note to editors below.)
The figures used for the Hotels.com survey are based on a very limited share of Irish hotels online sales and the sample size is only reflective of accommodation available on the Hotels.com website. It is too small to be representative of the 60,000 hotel and guesthouse rooms available for sale every day in Ireland.
Michael Vaughan, Irish Hotels Federation states: “It is irresponsible and misleading for Hotels.com to give the impression that hotel prices have risen when this is clearly not the case as borne out by the most recent CSO figures which show prices have in fact decreased.”
“The fact that prices on Hotels.com are higher is in no way reflective of the excellent value that is available in the market. This is nothing other than a cheap shot at publicity on the back of hotels that are doing their best to get their industry back on an even keel.”
The Irish Hotels Federation also questions the validity of data published in relation to individual towns and counties across the country. Mr Vaughan states that Hotels.com has limited access to hotel booking information to draw conclusions about accommodation prices other than those bednights sold on its website. He states that there is excellent value on offer by Irish hotels and guesthouses and that people should shop around.
-ENDS-
Note to editor:
Each month the CSO publishes its national consumer price index. Table 11 relates to hotels and restaurants, with line 11.2 relating specifically to accommodation services (price of bedrooms). Please see the most recent CSO figures below for twelve months to both July and June:
Consumer Price Index Detailed Sub-Indices July 2013 (See page 12, table 11, line 11.2):
Consumer Price Index Detailed Sub-Indices June 2013 (See page 12, table 11, line 11.2):
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