Venue and accommodation specialist HBI is warning that Moscow hotel prices will power through the roof in the coming weeks.
The Russian capital already boasts an occupancy rate of between 68% and 70%, but the forthcoming UEFA Champions League final featuring the two English teams of Manchester United and Chelsea, will potentially create chaos.
Moscow has around 35,000 hotel rooms ” and with 42,000 fans expected to descend on the city on 21 May ” pressure for rooms is expected to be huge with prices skyrocketing as a result.
”Moscow is already ranked as the most expensive city in the world with an average room rate of ”263,” said HBI managing director Des McLaughlin. ”A scenario such as the Champions League coming to the area will push room rates up even further.
”Visitors should expect to pay ”last room availability rates” and the hotels could well implement minimum and maximum stay requirements. The influx of football fans will leave the area saturated to say the least. The REV PAR ” revenue per available room ” will push prices up to exorbitant levels.”
The decision to site the final in Moscow has led to raised eyebrows in the UK, where a last minute scramble for tickets has led to confusion concerning visa requirements, extremely high flight prices and scarce hotel accommodation. Many fans are flying in on either aircraft chartered by the clubs and departing straight away after the match or paying for extremely expensive scheduled services.
One air broker ” Air Charter Service ” is supplying a fleet of aircraft for the final including a Boeing 737-300 to ferry 148 Chelsea fans to Moscow.
And in a spirit of unusual co-operation, four Chelsea and eight Manchester United fans have clubbed together to charter a 14-seat G4 private jet for the match.