Solar eclipse leaves trail of high prices in hotels – 04/07/2024 – Science
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The solar eclipse that will cast a visible shadow over part of the United States this Monday (8) is already leaving a mark on hotel prices.
The Super 8 hotel chain is considered an economical option for travelers and has more than 1,400 locations. Around 300 of them are in the path of totality of the eclipse (that is, when the Sun is completely covered by the Moon), and a hundred of them are sold out for this Sunday (7) or Monday (8), according to the website of the Super 8.
Approximately 45% of Super 8 hotels within 25 miles of the center of the path of totality that still had vacancies listed rooms for at least double the usual price.
A Super 8 in Grayville, Illinois, for example, advertised a price of US$949 (more than R$4,806) per night for a stay from Sunday to Tuesday (9). Its normal advertised rate per night is US$95 (about R$480).
A representative for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the parent company of Super 8, said each Super 8 is an individually operated franchise that sets its own rates. However, all franchise owners have access to the same revenue management software that they can use to establish their pricing strategy.
More expensive hotels in big cities are also seeing an increase. The Ritz-Carlton in Dallas was currently offering a two-night stay for $7,600 for Sunday through Tuesday. A week later, the price for a two-night stay is US$1,329 (about R$6,731).
Even Super 8 hotels in Glendale, Arizona, site of the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament final, which takes place on Monday, don’t exceed eclipse prices.
Thelma Diller, who works at the Super 8 in Malvern, Arkansas, said she would be at the hotel Monday and “hopefully” watch the eclipse. According to her, the hotel’s reservations were sold out almost a year ago. “I’ve been working here for almost 20 years,” she said. “It’s extremely rare.”
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