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Concerns Mount as Paris Hotels Experience Low Occupancy Ahead of Summer Olympics
As the Summer Olympics approach, Paris hotels are facing low occupancy rates, raising concerns about the city’s readiness for the influx of visitors. Learn more about the challenges ahead.
With the highly anticipated summer Olympic Games nearing, the hotel industry in Paris is on edge as it faces a worrisome drop in occupancy rates.
Current Situation
Just weeks away from the Olympic Games, there is a noticeable trend of tourists shying away from the capital city. Some polls suggest that occupancy rates have plummeted by nearly 25% compared to previous years.
For instance, Ze Hotel located at the base of Montmartre has seen a stark contrast in its occupancy levels. In June, the hotel is only operating at half-capacity, a significant decline from its usual 80% occupancy rate in recent years.
The hotel’s director, Aldric Duval, voiced his concerns saying, “I think the Olympic Games effect is counter-productive since everything is very expensive.”
He further elaborated, “We explained to (the tourists) that traffic restrictions were going to be complicated, that the price of a metro ticket was going to triple, that the tourist tax had tripled… On top of that, the weather is difficult, so people are less inclined to come.”
‘It’s extremely quiet’
In July of the previous year, official statistics from France’s Insee revealed that hotel occupancy rates in Paris averaged a robust 90.7%. This means that in a 100-room hotel, less than 10 rooms would be unoccupied on any given night.
However, with the upcoming Olympics, projections indicate that up to 40 rooms might remain unsold during the event. Romain Bellet, the cofounder of WeHost, highlighted the struggle in filling apartment accommodations, with Airbnb occupancy rates hovering around 20% to 25% in May.
Bellet remarked, “It’s extremely quiet,” emphasizing the current lull in tourism activity. Despite some tourists waiting for last-minute deals, industry professionals are banking on the anticipated boost in bookings that the Olympics may bring for future seasons.
The city’s tourism bureau, “Paris je t’aime,” anticipates that the majority of tourists during the summer games, scheduled from July 26 to August 11, will primarily consist of “local or domestic” visitors.