Olympic price gouging and the government asks for it not to

[sussexjob]

London Hotels are starting to disclose outrageous prices which in some cases are 5 times the norm, visit Britain have asked for hoteliers not to take advantage are they living in the real world ? Or should a windfall tax be applied after all we are all paying for this folly.

[dave9]

well its up to the hotels surely isn't it?

i have no interest in the olympics so it doesn't affect me.

[Victor McDade]

sussexjob said:

London Hotels are starting to disclose outrageous prices which in some cases are 5 times the norm, visit Britain have asked for hoteliers not to take advantage are they living in the real world ? Or should a windfall tax be applied after all we are all paying for this folly.

No, 'Visit Britain' are mad to even ask. Hotels should be able to do what they want.

A windfall tax? What are the total estimated costs now, it started off at £9.5 billion but I imagine it's 2 or 3 times that now.

[Oakey]

Victor McDade said:

No, 'Visit Britain' are mad to even ask. Hotels should be able to do what they want.

A windfall tax? What are the total estimated costs now, it started off at £9.5 billion but I imagine it's 2 or 3 times that now.

and screw anyone who is required to stay in a hotel but isn't there for the Olympics. It's completely fair they should suddenly have to pay five times more than they usually would due to an event that doesn't concern them. Collateral damage.

[madala]

....yup I will be charging five times as much in my cab....er....just forgot I am controlled by the government (TFL)....bugger....I think I will 'feck off out of London for the duration of the Olympics....I friggen hate the Olympics at the best of times.

[MadMullah]

every country does it

its just london's prices are a bit higher than most countries prices would be.

south africa did it during the world cup - hell they even built new (now empty) hotels for it.

during the south korean gp - several brothels called themselves hotels and put customers up.

its ker-ching time for london why shouldnt people make money?

[Dangerous2]

don't forget visa.

i don't understand how what they are doing is not anti-competitive.

[davepoth]

Because there are other payment options available. It's either that, or the olympics would have been held on a field.

[Dangerous2]

cash or visa?

[Jasandjules]

Supply and demand in a free market. Why shouldn't they take advantage?

[Fossilface]

Being someone who likes weekends away, this is the same as how prices for accomodation can go crazy at Easter etc where the prices can double.
People with kids at school have little choice and are basically being bent over.

Anyway...back on topic.
I think we all know that the Olympics are going to be a feeding frenzy with inflated prices and £10 cans of Coke etc.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Oakey said:

and screw anyone who is required to stay in a hotel but isn't there for the Olympics. It's completely fair they should suddenly have to pay five times more than they usually would due to an event that doesn't concern them. Collateral damage.

So how does that differ from a trip to Monaco to admire the scenery while the Grand Prix just happens to be on?

[MX7]

I don't see why hotel owners are being singled out. Companies do it all the time. Flights in the school holidays, or winter tyres when we have a drop of snow, are always more expensive. And the Olympics want £750 for the 100m final? Shouldn't it cost the same as the qualifying rounds then?

[ewenm]

MX7 said:

And the Olympics want £750 for the 100m final? Shouldn't it cost the same as the qualifying rounds then?

Although there are £50 tickets for that session too...

[SeeFive]

MadMullah said:

during the south korean gp - several brothels called themselves hotels and put customers up.

Er, put customers what up what?

[Jasandjules]

MX7 said:

I don't see why hotel owners are being singled out. Companies do it all the time. Flights in the school holidays, or winter tyres when we have a drop of snow, are always more expensive. And the Olympics want £750 for the 100m final? Shouldn't it cost the same as the qualifying rounds then?

Exactly.

When I wanted a holiday a few years ago I was able to take time off the two weeks before school holidays I was getting prices. Then I needed to change it and it was the week that school holidays started, the price doubled..... And this was for the Maldives, not exactly the destination of choice for families with school kids.......

[Mermaid]

supply/demand comes into it? Try booking a hotel at the Nurburgring for the 24hr race.

[Tom55]

so is now the time to start advertising a room in my home, at the end of the DLR, or even let the whole house for the duration

[BlueMR2]

MX7 said:

I don't see why hotel owners are being singled out. Companies do it all the time. Flights in the school holidays, or winter tyres when we have a drop of snow, are always more expensive. And the Olympics want £750 for the 100m final? Shouldn't it cost the same as the qualifying rounds then?

I was watching a news program or similar and an expert reckoned that those seats may sell for £10,000+ lol.

6.6 million tickets and £50-£750 per ticket.

Guess our government will be quids in, 10 mill on a stadium, sell it to a large company for a few quid after. couple of grand on fireworks, then huge revenue from tickets and extra VAT on hotels, etc, etc.

Wouldn't want to fill up with fuel during the games or be a taxi driver making tiny money if any sitting in hour long queues for 1 mile using loads of fuel and time for nothing.

Sucks for people in London, might be good for other businesses near other main airports.