AUSTRALIAN cities are leading the Asia-Pacific in room rates, with Melbourne and Sydney taking tops in a ranking of hotel rates around the region.
According to the HRS Annual Hotel Price Radar 2014 released last Sunday, Melbourne was the most expensive city to travel to. Hotel rates averaged at S$289.20 (US$213.33) per night, a 31.4 per cent spike year-on-year.
The sharp increase in rates can be attributed to the city’s flourishing MICE sector and the Australian government’s initiative to position Melbourne as the events capital of the world.
Sydney followed in second place at S$256.20, while Singapore and Hong Kong remained strong at the third and fourth positions at S$235.80 and S$223.20 respectively.
Hong Kong remained one of the top-listers despite civil unrest last year, owing to its already established position as a financial and business hub in Asia-Pacific.
Unsurprisingly, Bangkok took last place at 13th spot at S$91.20 per night, a 10.7 per cent fall in rates as compared to 2013, due to political strife.
Notable also was that Seoul experienced the largest fall in room rate at 17.1 per cent.
