Tourists planning to spend Christmas in Hong Kong have fuelled a surge in guest house bookings since October, driving occupancy and room rates to their strongest levels in five years.
But those arriving without reservations may end up paying double the price, according to an industry leader.
David Leung Tai-wai also told the Post that the government’s push to promote the “mega-event” economy risked wasting public funds if officials failed to equally promote affordable lodging.
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The founder and chairman of the Hong Kong Guest Houses Association – which represents about 750 of the city’s 1,350 budget lodgings – said this year “marked the highest in at least five years”, referring to room rates, occupancy and year-on-year growth.
Occupancy rates at guest houses over the festive period are projected to reach 90 per cent compared with 80 per cent last year, while prices in popular tourist districts have risen by at least HK$50 (US$6.40) to as much as HK$500 a night.
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“Last year, people only started calling to book in November, but this year they began as early as October – a full month earlier,” Leung said.