Hotels across the United States are reducing prices for the upcoming World Cup this summer due to lower-than-expected demand. Reports indicate that room rates have been slashed by approximately one-third in cities hosting tournament matches, such as Dallas, where England will face Croatia in their first game on June 19. This price drop follows backlash over high ticket costs and anti-US sentiments.
Fifa President Gianni Infantino had anticipated a surge in hotel bookings for the World Cup, which is set to be held in the US, Canada, and Mexico. However, Vijay Dandapani, the President of the Hotel Association of New York City, stated that there has not been a significant increase in demand as promised by Fifa.
Scott Yesner, the founder of hotel management company Bespoke Stay, noted a trend of hotels lowering their rates in response to the lack of reservations. Additionally, Fifa has canceled thousands of reserved hotel rooms for its staff, leaving hoteliers with excess room inventory to fill.
Lior Sekler, Chief Commercial Officer at HRI Hospitality, attributed the decline in visitors to dissatisfaction with the US government’s policies, including those related to visas and immigration. Some fans are also deterred by the exorbitant ticket prices, which are significantly higher than originally proposed during the World Cup bid by the three countries.
Ticket prices for England’s group matches start at $220 (£162) and can go up to $700 (£515) for premium seats. Prices escalate for later stages of the tournament, with final tickets fetching up to £6,400 each. The Football Supporters Association has criticized these prices as “scandalous.”