Hotels accused of ‘profiteering’ as Tour de France comes to Britain

Hotel bosses are using the Tour de France to charge up to six times their usual prices.

The opening stages of the world’s most famous cycling race will take place in Yorkshire in July.

Three million spectators are expected to line the streets to watch the event. But some hotels on the route are charging more than it would cost for a night in London’s poshest establishments.

And tourism chiefs last night warned “profiteering” by hotels could deter visitors from coming back in future.

The most shocking mark-up was at Travelodge York Central Micklegate. Our online search revealed rooms are available for £199 a night for July 5, the first day of the tour.

However, it costs just £33 to book a night the following weekend, a sixth of the price.

On booking website Hotels.com, the 2-star Holgate Hill in York was charging a whopping £400 for one night on July 5, dropping to £84 a fortnight later.

However, when we contacted the hotel for a quote it claimed the £400 price tag was a mistake.

For guests looking for more upmarket accommodation, The Poplar House Serviced Apartments in York will cost £520 for the night of July 5. That was the price offered on its website on Friday.

The price falls to just £190 for one night in the following week, making it three times more expensive during the tour.

A Superior King Room at The Ritz one of London’s swankiest hotels will cost £506 a night over the same weekend.

Yorkshire MEP Timothy Kirkhope, former Tory spokesman on transport and tourism, said: “We want tourism in the region promoted not only for the few days the Tour is here but after it has gone.

“I’d be very concerned by anybody wanting to exploit that for short-term gain.”

The Tour de France is the world’s largest annual sporting event and will be the biggest in England this year.

Andrew Denton, head of media for Yorkshire’s Grand Depart, said: “While we don’t want to see profiteering, we understand that this is a premium sporting event and hoteliers with limited capacity will increase prices due to a spike in demand for rooms over the race weekend.

“What we’ve always said in meetings with accommodation providers is that one of the legacies of hosting the Tour de France will be an increase in return visitors.

“We’re confident most hoteliers won’t be tempted to make a quick profit at the expense of a longer-term plan to welcome guests back again once the race is over.”

After The Sunday Post contacted Travelodge, a spokesman said the price for a room at the Central Micklegate on July 5 would be £162.

She said: “We operate in a demand-led industry but are confident that we’re offering consumers the best value prices for a branded hotel chain within the area.”

Shaun Clark, of The Poplar House, said guests were being encouraged to stay for the whole weekend at the same price as one night, £520. He described the charges as “not excessive”.

Hazel Hart, proprietor of the Holgate Hill Hotel, said the price of £400 had been advertised in error.

She said a double room over the weekend would cost £55 per person, per night, a total of £220 for the weekend.

“We’re not charging ridiculous prices,” she said. “Nobody is going to be paying £400.”