Paris luxury hotels raise room prices significantly, as American tourists return to the French capital en masse
- Hotels like Le Bristol and The Plaza Athénée have upped rates by as much as 20 per cent, as a strong US dollar brings American tourists flooding back to Paris
- Hoteliers say they are taking advantage of demand after years of Covid hardship, and that Netflix’s Emily in Paris may have helped reignite interest in the city
One of Paris’ most expensive hotel suites just got even pricier. A night in the top suite at Le Bristol, one of the city’s famed luxury hotels, has risen by €5,000 (US$4,900) as American tourists, travelling with their strong dollars, have returned en masse to the French capital.
A three-minute walk from the presidential Élysée Palace residence, Le Bristol increased all its room rates following a summer season that broke records in terms of occupancy and average rates, says Catherine Hodoul-Baudry, the hotel’s commercial and marketing director. She expects the high-end hotel to have its best year ever.
Le Bristol’s top suite, the Imperial Suite, went up by 20 per cent, to €30,000 a night during the week of August 29, says Hodoul-Baudry. The price for the hotel’s entry-level rooms has also increased – by €300, to €2,290 – following a jump in demand since May.
It’s common in the hotel industry to charge varying rates, depending on demand, discounts provided by tour operators, loyalty, as well as the duration of a customer’s stay.
Le Bristol’s 3,475 sq ft (32o square metre), three-room Imperial Suite overlooks its French-style garden, and boasts a dining area that can accommodate as many as 12 guests, according to the hotel’s description. It tends to be favoured by official delegations because of its size, the director says.
