Hotels across the United States are reducing prices for the upcoming World Cup in response to lower 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 trend is attributed to dissatisfaction with 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 take place in 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 significantly yet.
Hotel management company Bespoke Stay’s founder, Scott Yesner, noted a growing sense of panic among hoteliers leading to rate reductions. Additionally, Fifa has canceled reservations for thousands of pre-booked hotel rooms for its staff, leaving hotel operators with excess inventory to sell.
Lior Sekler, the Chief Commercial Officer at HRI Hospitality, attributed the decline in visitors to factors such as dissatisfaction with the US administration under President Donald Trump and restrictive visa and immigration policies. This has resulted in a decrease in the desire to visit the United States.
Some fans are deterred by the exorbitant ticket prices for the games, which are significantly higher than the original bid proposed by the hosting countries. Prices for England’s group matches start at $220 (£162) and can go up to $700 (£515) for premium tickets. As teams progress in the tournament, ticket prices escalate, with final tickets reaching up to £6,400 each. The Football Supporters Association has criticized these prices as “scandalous.”
