Skift

Episode Notes Travelers will likely notice that hotel room rates are up this summer travel season compared to last year, leading to charges that hotel owners are raising prices to take advantage of pent-up vacation demand. However, Senior Research Analyst Seth Borko argues that surging rates aren’t a case of price gouging. Borko acknowledges that the average price of a U.S. hotel room rose 13 percent in May from the same month last year. But he reports that jump doesn’t account for inflation, adding the price of everything rose during the pandemic. Hotel owners in particular have seen the cost of items such fuel, food and laundry supplies increase. Borko notes inflation data suggests that most hotel owners are raising rates to keep pace with their surging costs.  He also writes that if hotel owners aren’t making more profits from the increased rates, that’s not price gouging.   Next, more travel brands are turning to artificial intelligence tools to help users make bookings, with many companies believing the