Exchange Rates Continue to Drive Canadian Hotel Rates Down

Maintaining its presence for the third month in a row, Victoria, British Columbia takes first place with a 16 percent decrease. A well-known leisure destination with over 3.5 million overnight visitors per year, hotels in the region have been dropping prices to battle the unfavourable exchange rate and attract more travelers.
 
Kingston is the first of three cities in Ontario to appear on the list this month, falling from first place in August to second with a seven percent decrease. Located in the Thousand Islands part of Canada, Kingston provides easy access to Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River for cruising and boating enthusiasts. Much like the rest of Canada, the city is also experiencing lower rates due to the exchange rate prompting many would-be visitors to opt for other destinations. In this case, nearby New York provides attractive options.
 
Niagara Falls is the second city in Ontario on the list this month, claiming third place with a five percent decrease. A great family destination with museums, aquatic theme parks and a plethora of themed restaurants to choose from, Niagara Falls is a fun destination that's easy to get to.
 
Coming in at fourth place is Ontario's provincial capital Toronto, which makes an appearance on the list for the first time since January 2010 with a three percent decrease. Being the largest city in Canada and fifth most populous region in North America, Toronto is a true cultural hub, with a huge offering of performing arts, museums, restaurants and historical architecture. Rounding out the top five is Montreal, Quebec, which appears back on the list after its appearance on the report earlier this summer.
 
When compared to the same time last year, the top five hotel price reductions for September 2011 include:
 
 
 

                           Price      Example of a Current

    Rank   Hotel Market    Drop       Hotwire Deal,            CAD$/Night

    1      Victoria, BC         -16% 3.5-star                            $85

    2      Kingston, ON          -7% 3-star                             $126

            Niagara

    3       Falls, ON            -5% 3.5-star                           $105

    4      Toronto, ON           -3% 4-star                             $104

    5      Montreal, QC          -2% 3.5-star                           $108

    

    

"As we've seen throughout the summer, exchange rates continue to contribute to lowered hotel rates throughout Canada, particularly in cities close the United States border," said Clem Bason, President of the Hotwire Group. "So, in an effort to keep their rooms filled, hotels throughout these popular destinations turn to providers such as Hotwire to edge up demand by offering travelers fantastic discounts."
 
Hotwire is able to find great deals because it works with hotels, airlines and car rental companies to fill unsold inventory. This means customers can find incredibly low deals on Hotwire, especially in cities like those on the Hotel Rate Report where prices are unseasonably low.


About the Hotwire Hotel Rate Report
The Hotwire Hotel Rate Report will run results during the first week of each month. Results are calculated by looking at Hotwire stay dates for select regions in the current month, and comparing prices in the current month against Hotwire prices in the same month in the prior year. Prices are compared within the same star rating categories for consistency, and the percent change in price for each region is generated as an overall average of the changes in those categories. The prices in the chart above are examples for a particular star rating category within that market, and actual prices may be higher or lower than the example that is provided.

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