Hotel prices cut in Beijing

Olympic Games fails to attract tourists

As the Olympic Games get under way today with a spectacular opening ceremony, it seems that Beijing is failing to attract the number of visitors expected.

Figures recently published on the website of the Beijing Tourism Administration show that only 299,000 overseas tourists visited the Chinese capital in June, compared to 385,000 in April. In August last year Beijing had 420,000 overseas visitors, but this month despite the obvious draw of the Olympics municipal authorities say they only expect between 400,000 and 450,000 tourists from abroad.

As a result of the lower than anticipated demand, hotels in Beijing have been slashing their room rates. According to hotels.com, which claims to be the world’s most visited online accommodation website, the average price of a room in Beijing was £397 for those booking in April, but fell to just £144 in July.

The last few months has seen frenzied competition among hotels in Beijing to book visitors for the Olympic Games. Several new hotels have opened in the run up to the Games, including the Ritz Carlton Beijing Downtown and the latest spa hotel, the Marriott Hotel Beijing.

Average prices paid per room per night in Beijing varied from £125 for rooms booked in June, to the high of £397 in April. In March the figure was £235 and in May £145. Normally booking a hotel at the last minute – particularly for a big event like the Olympics – is a risky strategy as lack of supply means rates go up, but it is sometimes possible to pick up late bargains.

“This drop in average prices paid for rooms in Beijing means that it is a great time for last minute trips to China. People booking now can expect some real bargains on sites like ours as hoteliers compete to fill their rooms,” comments hotels.com director of communications, Alison Couper.

Hotel deals available on hotels.com for anyone inspired to take a holiday to the Beijing Olympics include the four star Beijing Guangxi Plaza located in the Chaoyang district, close to Beijing's largest antiques market, from £99 per room per night; and the three star Spring Garden Courtyard Hotel located in the Xicheng District, close to Tiananmen Square, from £178 per room per night.