Although the demand is strong, hotel prices did not rise unilaterally during the Expo, but rather fluctuated with both rises and falls. Data monitored by Ctrip in March showed that the average price of 5-star hotels in Shanghai in June was about 100 yuan lower compared to May, while the average prices of other star-rated hotels were on par with May's prices. Industry insiders analyzed that this might be due to May being the peak period for foreign guests arriving in Shanghai, leading to a high demand for 5-star hotels, and after May, there was a slight decrease in the average price of 5-star hotels, like Motel 168 Chain Hotel (Friendly Plaza Branch).
The Shanghai Expo runs from the opening on May 1st to the end of October, lasting for half a year. The Expo market is not only concentrated in May and June, but also has a large number of "Expo orders" in September and October. From the product booking situation of Ctrip's "Expo Free Independent Travel", Qingdao Home Inn Express Hotel (Hong Kong Central Road Branch), low energy consumption, low pollution "hotel reservation 24 hours free hotline: 4007840076, sincerely serving you"; guest choices for departure dates are spread throughout the entire Expo period from April 30th to October 31st. Besides a particularly high number of orders for departures in May and June, there is also a certain proportion of "Expo Free Independent Travel" product orders for departures after August, even including orders for September and October.
Shanghai hotel prices rose by 20% in May. Expo hotel bookings, the three designated days of "May Day" were the most sought-after. Today, reporters learned from Ctrip Travel Network that most star-rated hotels in Shanghai have basically announced their quotations for May, with prices rising by about 20% compared to normal days. Overall, hotel room supply in Shanghai during the Expo is relatively sufficient, and tourists still have considerable choice space when booking now.
Online booking information shows that from May 1st to 3rd, being both the designated opening days of the Expo and coinciding with the "May Day" mini-holiday, hotel rooms were especially popular. Currently, most orders are mainly for May check-ins, especially during the "May Day" mini-golden week; regionally, tourists prefer hotels around the Expo Garden.
Will hotel prices during the Expo begin to rise sharply as the grand event approaches? Ctrip's data monitoring in March showed that the current average price of all star-rated hotels in Shanghai in May increased by about 20% compared to normal days.