One of my personal favourite accomplishments of 2023 has been doing multiple radio appearances to talk about the phenomenon that is Time Person of the Year Taylor Swift's Eras Tour while having not been able to get tickets myself. But the lucky Swifties who did manage to snag — and probably shell out hundreds of dollars on, Godspeed — seats for when the pop star comes to Canada next year are facing new champagne problems.
As CBC's Tanya Fletcher reports, one fan has already been quoted $3,716 for a two-night motel stay in Vancouver a year in advance of the Eras Tour stint at BC Place next December. Following complaints of price gouging, the provincial government will be reaching out to the hotel sector to discuss fair pricing for accommodation for major events.
The Vancouver hotels still showing availability for Swift's three-night run next December 6, 7 and 8 are advertising soaring room rates.
"Vancouver was the only city we were able to get tickets to," Floridian Sarah Palmer told CBC, adding that she paid about $175 for each during a presale. "I knew it was going to be hard — Taylor Swift is like the Super Bowl — so I knew it was going to be really difficult to get a hotel."
When she contacted the Quality Inn & Suites Downtown Vancouver, she was quoted $3,716 for a two-night stay in a standard room — which Fletcher claims is about 13 times above average.
"As those dates you have inquired about fall upon the same dates Taylor Swift is playing in Vancouver, our rates have gone up to match this demand," reads the email the motel sent Palmer. She did not proceed to book the room, remarking, "I don't even know how that's legal."
Quality Inn management told the CBC that its rates are based on availability, so when there's a big event in town, that goes down. And it seems to be a pretty common practice: "This week, several listings on Expedia, for example, showed nightly rates of up to $1,900 during Swift's three 2024 concert dates," Fletcher writes. "Many others show they're already sold out altogether."
After bringing this to the attention of the provincial government, Tourism Minister Lana Popham said the province would be in talks with the hotel sector "to ensure there is an appropriate balance between visitor experience and hotel sustainability for people visiting BC."
As CBC's Tanya Fletcher reports, one fan has already been quoted $3,716 for a two-night motel stay in Vancouver a year in advance of the Eras Tour stint at BC Place next December. Following complaints of price gouging, the provincial government will be reaching out to the hotel sector to discuss fair pricing for accommodation for major events.
The Vancouver hotels still showing availability for Swift's three-night run next December 6, 7 and 8 are advertising soaring room rates.
"Vancouver was the only city we were able to get tickets to," Floridian Sarah Palmer told CBC, adding that she paid about $175 for each during a presale. "I knew it was going to be hard — Taylor Swift is like the Super Bowl — so I knew it was going to be really difficult to get a hotel."
When she contacted the Quality Inn & Suites Downtown Vancouver, she was quoted $3,716 for a two-night stay in a standard room — which Fletcher claims is about 13 times above average.
"As those dates you have inquired about fall upon the same dates Taylor Swift is playing in Vancouver, our rates have gone up to match this demand," reads the email the motel sent Palmer. She did not proceed to book the room, remarking, "I don't even know how that's legal."
Quality Inn management told the CBC that its rates are based on availability, so when there's a big event in town, that goes down. And it seems to be a pretty common practice: "This week, several listings on Expedia, for example, showed nightly rates of up to $1,900 during Swift's three 2024 concert dates," Fletcher writes. "Many others show they're already sold out altogether."
After bringing this to the attention of the provincial government, Tourism Minister Lana Popham said the province would be in talks with the hotel sector "to ensure there is an appropriate balance between visitor experience and hotel sustainability for people visiting BC."
