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Amy Nip

Hong Kong saw the world's biggest jump in hotel prices last year, while also recording the highest occupancy rate in 16 years.
The results underlined warnings by Tourism Board chairman James Tien Pei-chun that a shortage of hotels is a barrier to tourism growth.
But trade bosses say 2011 was an exceptional year and they don't expect similar figures this year.
In a global survey based on customer bookings, online agency Hotels.com concluded that the average hotel room price in Hong Kong soared by 46 per cent to HK$1,270 from a year ago. 
'Hong Kong saw the biggest price increase ... thanks to leisure and business travellers from the mainland and their strong demand for shopping tours,' the agency said on its website.
The Australian city of Brisbane also recorded a 46 per cent increase.
Another survey by the Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners showed average occupancy reached 88 per cent last year, topping the previous peak of 86 per cent in 1996, while the average room rate was HK$1,343 compared to HK$1,218 16 years ago.
In comparison, the growth in hotel room supply is much smaller.
There will be 6,000 new hotel rooms available in the market this year, increasing the total supply to 68,000. The increase will slow in following years, with the total reaching 72,000 in 2016. 
Tien said this month that a lack of hotel rooms was pushing up prices and blocking growth.
The surge in prices made it costlier to stay in Hong Kong than in many other Asian cities. 
Kyoto, which used to be more expensive, has fallen to HK$1,143 a night since last year's earthquake and tsunami.
Seoul saw the average price increase by 15 per cent to HK$1,085. 
Meanwhile, the mainland got cheaper. It cost less than HK$700 to stay a night in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Guangzhou, where room prices dropped by between 7 and 23 per cent last year. 
Singapore was costlier, with average room rates at HK$1,409 a night. Hotels in New York, Zurich and London were also much more expensive, with average rates ranging from HK$1,730 to HK$2,114.
6,000
The number of new hotel rooms due to be available in Hong Kong this year, increasing the total supply to 68,000. The figure is due to rise to 72,000 in 2016



Hotels on top of the world ... for price rise