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Airport hotels cash in on snow crisis
Hotels near London Heathrow are making the most of the snow crisis and, perhaps not surprisingly, charging stranded passengers a premium for a bed for the night.
What is slightly more surprising perhaps is that some hotels close to Heathrow still have empty rooms, but maybe the price hikes are forcing potential customers to sleep in terminal buildings instead.
Hotels.com was unable to say how much rates had gone up since the severe weather struck, but the hotel provider said rates were up to 300% higher than for next month, though January is generally cheaper anyway.
The Ramada Hotel at Heathrow Airport was charging £220 per night for a room on Tuesday evening; the same room booked cost January 5 cost only £85.
The average room rate for a hotel close to Heathrow tomorrow night is £119.
Hotels.com spokeswoman Alison Couper said: “Clearly, availability for rooms around Heathrow is at a premium as travellers find themselves stranded as a result of the severe weather conditions – and prices rise as demand outstrips supply.
“Room rates are definitely going up but some providers are charging far more than others.”
She said searches for hotels near the airport were up 95 per cent between last Saturday’s snowfall and today, compared to the same period last year.
Couper added: “There is still availability around London’s airports with some reasonable deals but the increase in demand is having a varying impact on the pricing structures of operators.”
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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