NZ hotel rate rise in line with global trend

Prices in North America rose 5 per cent with Las Vegas room prices up 7 per cent to $142. Photo / Supplied

Hotel prices in New Zealand rose by 5 per cent in the first half of this year, according to a survey of global destinations.

The hotels.com index says despite visitor numbers from Europe and the US declining and more than half the hotel rooms being occupied by New Zealanders, the impact of the Christchurch earthquakes continued to influence average hotel rates.

New Zealand travellers paid an average of $133 a room in the first half of the year, up from $126.

All major cities showed increases, with Christchurch up 25 per cent to $146 and Hamilton up 27 per cent to $126, Wellington up 7 per cent to $130 and Auckland up just 1 per cent to $126.

The index is a regular survey of prices in major destinations across the world based on bookings made through the website and prices shown are those actually paid by customers rather than advertised rates.

For the first time in five years hotel prices have risen across all of the regions surveyed. Prices were up 4 per cent for 140,000 hotels around the world.

Prices in the Pacific region rose 6 per cent fuelled by Australia's strong economy and in Asia grew 4 per cent following the natural disasters that affected the region in 2011. Prices in North America and the Caribbean rose 5 per cent and average rates in Europe and the Middle East as well as Latin America, rose by 1 per cent.

New Zealanders visiting the US have faced increased prices with the steepest in Anaheim, home of Disneyland, up 30 per cent to $180. Las Vegas room prices were up 7 per cent to $142.

Rome and Paris were among the destinations to experience price falls, with rates dropping 13 per cent to $207 and 8 per cent to $223, respectively. London hotel prices fell 5 per cent to $249 in the lead-up to the Olympics.

Sydney's hotel prices rose 7 per cent to $212 and Melbourne rates were up 4 per cent to $196, Gold Coast rates fell by 3 per cent to $169.