Room rates have soared by as much as 1,000% as hotels cash in on the Rugby World Cup, new research reveals.
A hotel stay on a match night will cost an average of £261 – 184% above the average of £92 in 2014 – with prices increasing for each match in each city.
The largest increases were found in Cardiff, where prices have risen by up to 1,095%, reaching an average of £1,018 for the quarter final of the tournament at Millennium Stadium on October 17, according to analysis by hotel search website Trivago.
The Welsh capital, Brighton and London emerged as the most expensive host cities for stays during the event, with Birmingham, Leeds and Leicester the cheapest.
London’s most expensive matches are the final on October 31 and the home match between England and Australia on October 3.
A hotel on the night of the final will cost an average of £334 – up 103% from £165 in 2014 – while the night of England verses Australia will cost £332, up 101%.
A triviago spokeswoman said: “The hotel price increases in Cardiff are the most extreme we have ever reported for an event in the UK.
“For the World Cup in Brazil last year, hotel prices peaked at an average of £328, with a maximum increase of 243%.
“The average in Cardiff for all match nights is £574, which is 140% more expensive than a night in London during the Rugby World Cup (average of £240), despite London being the UK’s most expensive city for a hotel stay.
“Saturday is the most popular match day in the UK, with 17 matches scheduled on Saturdays, hotel availability at 22% – 6% below the average availability of 28% – and hotel prices at an average of £315, 21% above the average.
“With availability low and prices high, those who have not yet booked accommodation should hesitate no longer.”