Soaring hotel prices, crackdown on illegal renting to hit Paris 2024 experience
Paris Olympics Accommodation Woes
1:10 PM UTC – November 20, 2023
PARIS (Reuters) – Visitors heading to Paris for next year’s Olympics face major accommodation problems amid soaring hotel prices and a crackdown on rentals of tourist apartments.
A report by the Paris tourism office showed that hotel prices would rise by a whopping 314% between the 2023 and 2024 summers.
“We want popular Games, and it can’t be popular Games at 700 euros a night,” Frederic Hocquard, Paris’s deputy mayor for tourism and night life, told Reuters on Monday.
The report also hit out at the Paris hotels for waiting too long to open their booking platforms for the July 26 – Aug. 11 Games.
“Some 66% of the hotels are still not available for booking for the period of the Olympics,” the report said.
According to the Paris Tourism office, a hotel night in the Paris region was 169 euros in July 2023, and it is expected to soar up to 699 euros in July 2024.
“The rise is 366% for the two-star hotels and 475% for the three-star hotels,” it said.
“What is going to happen is that people will take a hotel room for 200 euros a night in Nantes, Lille or Rennes and commute by train and they will save money this way,” Hocquard added.
“At the London Games, the prices were too high and the occupation rate of hotels went 12% down. You can’t triple the price of the rooms. Maybe you can allow, a 10, 15% increase, but tripling the prices won’t work.
“The way it is going, we’re going to feed the Airbnb beast.”
Visitors might opt for Airbnb, but the French parliament is expected to pass a law to crack down on illegal renting of tourism homes.
In Paris, residents are allowed to rent their place on Airbnb for a maximum 120 days a year, but Jacques Baudrier, Paris’s deputy mayor in charge of housing, said the city is struggling to have the law respected.
“We need to produce a lot of evidence that the law is not respected and it makes it hard to sanction,” Baudrier told Reuters on Monday.
“There are about 20,000 homes that are being rented illegally all year long.”
The French parliament is expected to pass a law stipulating that owners who rent their homes will be taxed.
“The law project will be presented at the Parliament on Nov. 28, and we are confident that it will pass. We don’t have any problems with those who rent their home legally. We have a problem with the illegal renting,” said Baudrier.
Last June, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said he is “in favour” of reforming the taxation of furnished tourist accommodation, because of the significant “windfall effects”.
Between 2021 and 2023, owners who illegally rented their homes were fined 6.5 million euros in total.
Reporting by Julien Pretot; editing by Pritha Sarkar
How does the lack of available hotel rooms and rental apartments during the Olympics threaten the enthusiasm and participation of visitors in the Paris Games
To 690 euros during the Olympics. This sharp increase in prices has raised concerns among potential visitors, who may find it difficult to afford accommodation during the Games.
In addition to the exorbitant hotel prices, a crackdown on rentals of tourist apartments has further exacerbated the accommodation woes in Paris. Many tourists prefer to stay in apartments as an alternative to hotels, as it often offers more space and a homely environment. However, authorities in Paris have implemented stricter regulations on renting out apartments to tourists, making it harder to find available and affordable options.
The lack of available hotel rooms and rental apartments during the Olympics is a cause for concern, as it threatens to dampen the enthusiasm and participation of visitors in the Games. Paris, known for its tourism and vibrant nightlife, aims to host popular Games that attract both locals and international tourists. However, the soaring prices and limited accommodation options may hinder the city’s efforts to achieve this goal.
Frederic Hocquard, Paris’s deputy mayor for tourism and night life, emphasized the importance of affordable accommodation for the success of the Games. He stated, “We want popular Games, and it can’t be popular Games at 700 euros a night.” Hocquard’s statement reflects the need for the hospitality industry in Paris to address the issue of rising prices and limited availability.
The report by the Paris tourism office also criticized the delay in opening booking platforms by the city’s hotels. According to the report, only 34% of the hotels have made their rooms available for booking during the Olympics period. This delay further exacerbates the challenge of finding suitable accommodation for visitors, as it reduces the options available to them.
The Paris Olympics are a significant global event that attracts athletes, spectators, and media from all over the world. As the host city, Paris has the responsibility to ensure that the Games are accessible and enjoyable for everyone. The current accommodation woes pose a threat to the reputation of the city and its ability to deliver a memorable experience for visitors.
To address these problems, it is crucial for the Paris tourism authorities and the hospitality industry to collaborate and find solutions. This may involve negotiating with hotels to reduce prices during the Games, encouraging the opening of booking platforms in a timely manner, and exploring alternative accommodation options such as temporary rentals or partnerships with neighboring cities.
By tackling the accommodation issues effectively, Paris can ensure that the Olympics remain a highlight in the city’s history and leave a positive legacy for future events. Affordable and accessible accommodation is a fundamental aspect of any successful international event, and Paris must work towards finding a balance between accommodating visitors and managing the demands of the hospitality industry.
As the countdown to the Paris Olympics begins, it is crucial for all stakeholders to prioritize finding solutions to the accommodation woes. The Games should be a celebration of sports and international camaraderie, and the availability of affordable and suitable accommodation is essential to achieve this vision. Through effective planning, coordination, and collaboration, Paris can overcome these challenges and deliver an exceptional Olympic experience for all.
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