Hotels across the United States are reducing prices for the upcoming World Cup this summer due to lower-than-expected demand. Room rates have been slashed by approximately one-third in cities hosting tournament matches, such as Dallas, where England will kick off their campaign against Croatia on June 19. This decrease in prices comes amidst complaints about high ticket costs and negative sentiments towards the United States.
Fifa President Gianni Infantino had anticipated a surge in hotel bookings for the World Cup, which is jointly hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. However, Vijay Dandapani, the President of the Hotel Association of New York City, stated that the expected boost in demand has not materialized yet.
Scott Yesner, founder of Bespoke Stay hotel management company, mentioned that many hoteliers are starting to panic and lower their rates due to the lack of bookings. Additionally, Fifa has canceled thousands of contracted hotel rooms for its staff, leaving hotel owners with excess room inventory to sell.
Lior Sekler, the chief commercial officer at HRI Hospitality, attributed the decline in visitors to dissatisfaction with the policies of the Trump administration, as well as visa and immigration regulations. Some fans are also deterred by the exorbitant prices of World Cup tickets, which are significantly higher than initially proposed in the bid by the three host countries.
The Football Supporters Association criticized the escalating ticket prices, labeling them as “scandalous.” Prices for matches increase as the tournament progresses, with final tickets reaching up to £6,400 each.
