Hotels across the United States are slashing prices for the upcoming World Cup this summer due to a significant drop in demand. Room rates in cities hosting tournament games, such as Dallas where England will face Croatia on June 19, have been reduced by approximately one-third. This trend is believed to be influenced by high ticket prices for the games 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, acknowledged that the anticipated boost has not materialized yet. Vijay Dandapani, the president of the Hotel Association of New York City, expressed skepticism, stating that the promised influx of guests has not been significant so far.
Scott Yesner, the founder of Bespoke Stay, noted a growing sense of urgency among hotel operators to lower their rates as panic sets in. Additionally, Fifa has canceled reservations for numerous contracted hotel rooms for its staff, leaving hoteliers with excess inventory to sell.
Lior Sekler, the chief commercial officer at HRI Hospitality, attributed the decline in visitors to factors like dissatisfaction with the current US administration under President Donald Trump, as well as visa and immigration policies. This sentiment has contributed to a decrease in interest in traveling to the United States.
The escalating ticket prices for World Cup matches have also deterred some fans, with costs reaching up to ten times higher than initially promised in the bid submitted by the host countries. For instance, England supporters will need to pay at least $220 (£162) for group stage matches against Ghana and Panama, with category one tickets for the Croatia opener priced at $700 (£515).
As the tournament progresses, ticket prices soar, with final match tickets priced as high as £6,400 each. The Football Supporters Association has criticized these prices as “scandalous.”
