Rip off hotel costs in Cardiff
Posted: 26 Jul 2007, 17:25
HOTELS across the capital are bumping up their prices for the night of Joe Calzaghe’s big showdown against Mikkel Kessler in November.
While 70,000 fans are expected to cram into the Millennium Stadium for the late-night fight, they are facing paying hundreds of pounds for a hotel room in the city centre.
Top name hotels like the Hilton and the Marriott are already fully booked, but ones with vacancies are cashing in, with some even doubling their prices.
The Park Inn, formerly Jurys Hotel, is asking £225 for the night compared to £102 for the previous Saturday. And some hotels are only allowing bookings as a two-day package, meaning if you want to spend the night at the plush St David’s Hotel and Spa, you will have to shell out a whopping £520.
Big Joe Calzaghe fan, Grahame Dewar, 28, of Caerau, Cardiff, who has just bought his tickets for the big fight, said it was not only the Welsh public who were being taken advantage of.
He said: “Kessler is very popular in Denmark and apparently 5,000 of his fans will be travelling over.
“Where are they going to stay with rates like that?
“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous and hotels are just cashing in on a massive sporting event.
Steven Usher, 24, of St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan, said there was no need to put prices up.
He said: “Luckily, I live close by but I know people who will travel from all over Wales to watch Joe fight, and they will have no option but to pay.”
A spokeswoman for St David’s Hotel and Spa said the current rate was its published rate and was consistent with rates it offered throughout the year.
She said: “On any given weekend we have a variety of rates available and guests who booked early were able to take advantage of promotional packages.
“By offering a two-night package guests have the opportunity to enjoy Cardiff during this high profile event.”
Hugh Hilary, general manager for Park Plaza Hotel, said: “We believe the rates represent value for money.”
Dermot Keegan, chairman of the Cardiff Hoteliers Association, said hotels worked as any other business on supply and demand.
He said: “High prices on show does not mean all rooms were sold at that rate – they may be the only rooms available.”
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While 70,000 fans are expected to cram into the Millennium Stadium for the late-night fight, they are facing paying hundreds of pounds for a hotel room in the city centre.
Top name hotels like the Hilton and the Marriott are already fully booked, but ones with vacancies are cashing in, with some even doubling their prices.
The Park Inn, formerly Jurys Hotel, is asking £225 for the night compared to £102 for the previous Saturday. And some hotels are only allowing bookings as a two-day package, meaning if you want to spend the night at the plush St David’s Hotel and Spa, you will have to shell out a whopping £520.
Big Joe Calzaghe fan, Grahame Dewar, 28, of Caerau, Cardiff, who has just bought his tickets for the big fight, said it was not only the Welsh public who were being taken advantage of.
He said: “Kessler is very popular in Denmark and apparently 5,000 of his fans will be travelling over.
“Where are they going to stay with rates like that?
“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous and hotels are just cashing in on a massive sporting event.
Steven Usher, 24, of St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan, said there was no need to put prices up.
He said: “Luckily, I live close by but I know people who will travel from all over Wales to watch Joe fight, and they will have no option but to pay.”
A spokeswoman for St David’s Hotel and Spa said the current rate was its published rate and was consistent with rates it offered throughout the year.
She said: “On any given weekend we have a variety of rates available and guests who booked early were able to take advantage of promotional packages.
“By offering a two-night package guests have the opportunity to enjoy Cardiff during this high profile event.”
Hugh Hilary, general manager for Park Plaza Hotel, said: “We believe the rates represent value for money.”
Dermot Keegan, chairman of the Cardiff Hoteliers Association, said hotels worked as any other business on supply and demand.
He said: “High prices on show does not mean all rooms were sold at that rate – they may be the only rooms available.”
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