MEDIA RELEASE
New Zealand hotel prices experience strong rebound
• New Zealand hotel prices rise by 7%, above global increase of 4%
• 98% of Kiwi destinations analysed see increase in hotel prices
Auckland, 2 September 2013 – The latest Hotels.com® Hotel Price Index™ (HPI) reveals the average price of a hotel room in New Zealand increased by
seven per cent to $157 per night in the first six months of 2014 compared with same period in 2013. This rise was above
the global increase of four percent.
The healthy increase in hotel prices comes off the back of a 5.9% [1] increase in visitor numbers to New Zealand since last year, breaking a 12-month hotel price slump the region
experienced following the knock-on effect of the natural disasters that took place between 2011 and 2012.
Ninety-eight per cent of Kiwi destinations included in the HPI report saw an increase in price, with New Plymouth being
the biggest riser (13%) taking the average hotel price to $140. Paihia came in at second place (11%) increasing to $160.
Queenstown, Franz Josef Glacier and Dunedin were the third largest risers (10%), with average room rates moving to $199,
$163 and $153 respectively.
Almost all major cities registered a healthy growth, with both Auckland and Wellington’s hotel prices increasing by 7
per cent and 4 percent respectively to $148 per night each. Hotel prices in Christchurch remained the same at $163 a
night.
Hamilton and Invercargill, were the only destinations in the region to experience a decrease.
Commenting on the report, Katherine Cole, Regional Director, ANZ & Singapore for the Hotels.com® brand, says: “The New Zealand tourism industry has continued to rebound following the
spate of natural disasters since 2011 and has gone from strength to strength in the last three years. Increased visitor
numbers to the region means hoteliers are well poised to enjoy continued growth.”
Average hotel prices in H1 2013 compared with H1 2014:
DestinationH1 2014H1 2013% changeLake Tekapo$208$1909%Queenstown$199$18110%Wanaka$180$1696%Blenheim$168$1652%Christchurch$163$1630%Franz Josef Glacier$163$14810%Paihia$160$14411%Tauranga$160$1488%Fox Glacier$158$1570%Taupo$156$1551%Dunedin$153$13910%Auckland$148$1397%Wellington$148$1434%Nelson$143$1420%Te Anau$142$1319%New Plymouth$140$12413%Rotorua$131$1264%Hamilton$126$127-1%Palmerston North$119$1108%Invercargill$106$114-7%
Kiwi traveller habits
The strong New Zealand Dollar in the first half of the year meant Kiwi travellers had the luxury to spread their wings.
In the first half of 2014, Kiwis favoured passion over price when it came to travel, with 50 per cent of their favourite
10 holiday destinations also listed in the top 10 destinations where they paid the most to stay.
New York, a popular destination for Kiwis, saw a 6 per cent increase to $335 on average per night, keeping it in top
position as the destination were Kiwis paid the most in the HPI. Las Vegas was New Zealand’s third most popular
destination, experiencing a healthy 20 per cent increase to $159 per night. Also on the list was Honolulu, ranking 5th
in popularity at $295 per night making it the third priciest destination for Kiwis. San Francisco in at 9th most popular
destination; up 8 per cent to $267, was the fifth priciest destination.
Further revealing Kiwis were happy to splash their cash when travelling abroad, the HPI showed Kiwis spent an average of
$181 on a hotel room per night, compared to $134 when at home. This put Kiwis in the 11th spot for top spenders on
international hotel stays worldwide for the second year in a row, just behind their trans-Tasman neighbours, with
Australians taking out the 10th spot.
Katherine Cole said: “It’s great to see Kiwis are taking advantage of the strengthening Kiwi dollar to visit big-ticket
bucket list destinations.
“With the Kiwi dollar holding ground, we expect regions like the US and Europe to continue to feature prominently in
Kiwi travel plans. As always though, Kiwis will look to travel to value for money destinations like Australia and Asia,
with Bali at $138 per night registering as the eighth most popular destination for Kiwi jetsetters.”
Top 10 destinations for New Zealand travellers:
RankDestinationH1 2014
(NZD)H1 2014 rank in terms of price1Melbourne$193222Sydney$213153Las Vegas$159264New York$33515Honolulu$29536Gold Coast$172257London$27548Bali$138329San Francisco$266510Singapore$23310
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