Hotwire Reveals Hotel Rate Report for February 2010
Tampa Ranks Number One as Other Popular Florida Destinations Stabilize
Tampa is the only Florida city on this month's list, taking the top spot with a 16 percent drop. Last month's number one, Philadelphia, moves down to ninth with a seven percent drop.
The Tampa market continues to see lower occupancy and has reduced prices once again to compensate. Higher-end hotels have been particularly affected, where you can find deals on Hotwire as much as 40-60 percent off retail. However, frequent Top 10 Rate Report cities like Miami/Fort Lauderdale and Orlando have fallen off this month's list for varying reasons. Aggressive price reductions in Orlando throughout 2009 meant rates couldn't continue to fall. Meanwhile, the Miami area is experiencing increased demand due to city-wide events like the Super Bowl and NASCAR.
Outside of Florida, bargain hunters looking for snow instead of sun should consider a ski vacation near Salt Lake City, which makes its debut in the top 10 at the number eight spot with a seven percent drop.
When compared to the same time last year, the top 10 hotel price reductions for February 2010 include:
Example of a
Current
Rank Hotel Market Price Drop Hotwire Deal, US$/Night
1 Tampa, FL 16% 4-star $81
2 Columbus, OH 14% 4-star $73
3 Austin, TX 11% 3.5-star $74
4 San Diego, CA 11% 3.5-star $85
5 Houston, TX 9% 4-star $86
6 Phoenix, AZ 8% 4-star $99
7 Minneapolis, MN 8% 4-star $71
8 Salt Lake City, UT 7% 4-star $85
9 Philadelphia, PA 7% 3.5-star $81
10 Oahu, HI 6% 3-star $85
"The variation we're seeing in Florida's pricing trends may be a good example of what's going on in the rest of the country," said Clem Bason, President of the Hotwire Group. "In general, prices continue to drop year-over-year, but some markets are seeing pockets of stability. The good news is that deals are still incredibly strong across the board."
