Hotels across the United States are reducing prices for the upcoming World Cup this summer due to lower-than-expected demand. Reports indicate that room rates in cities hosting tournament matches, such as Dallas where England will face Croatia on June 19, have been slashed by approximately 33%. This drop in prices is attributed to backlash against the high costs of game tickets and negative sentiment towards the US.
Despite initial expectations of a surge in hotel bookings for the World Cup, Gianni Infantino, the head of Fifa, noted that the anticipated boost has not materialized yet, according to Vijay Dandapani, the president of the Hotel Association of New York City. While there may be some increase in demand in the future, it is unlikely to meet the optimistic projections made by Fifa.
Scott Yesner, the founder of hotel management company Bespoke Stay, observed a trend of panic among hotel operators who are now lowering their rates in response to the lackluster demand. Additionally, Fifa has canceled thousands of hotel room reservations for its staff, leading to an excess of available rooms for sale.
Lior Sekler, the chief commercial officer at HRI Hospitality, pointed out that dissatisfaction with the US administration, particularly regarding visa and immigration policies under President Donald Trump, is deterring potential visitors. This, coupled with exorbitant ticket prices for the games, has contributed to a decrease in interest among fans.
Ticket prices for the World Cup have skyrocketed, with the cheapest tickets costing ten times more than the original bid proposed by the host countries. Fans looking to attend England’s matches in Boston and New York will need to pay at least $220 (£162), rising to $700 (£515) for category one tickets for the opening game against Croatia. The escalating prices continue throughout the tournament, with final tickets reaching up to £6,400 each, drawing criticism from the Football Supporters Association as “scandalous.”
