Hotel room prices rise despite falling dollar

Despite the falling dollar, travellers continue to pay rising prices to stay in the nation's hotels.

The Hotels.com hotel price index survey found guests paid 4 per cent more for accommodation in the first six months of 2013 than at the same time last year. It now costs $171 per room, nationally.

But operators are tipped to experience a boost in demand both domestically and internationally as the effect of the softening dollars flows through more fully in the second half of the year.

"Despite these modest results from a hotel price perspective, the outlook remains positive as hoteliers focus on taking advantage of the thriving outbound markets of the region's growing economies," Johan Svanstrom, vice-president of Hotels.com Asia Pacific, said. The price index identified New Zealand, China, the US and Britain as the fastest-growing inbound market.

In Sydney, room rates rose 9 per cent to hit $190 per night. They increased 4 per cent in Melbourne to $163, and fell 1 per cent to $168 in Brisbane.

With the slackening of the mining boom, Perth witnessed a 5 per cent decline to $200. The Whitsunday Islands was the most expensive location at $254 a night.