Hawaii lodge, airfare costs anticipated to extend as tourism recovers

HONOLULU (KHON2) – Hawaii’s tourism market trend simply follows the supply and demand model.

Hotel and airfares are expected to rise as more people become comfortable creating travel plans.

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Hospitality analyst Vikram Singh said cheap hotel stays and flights could soon be a thing of the past.

Singh said, “When you see a deal, grab it because if things go well they won’t be around for long.”

More passenger arrivals bring optimism to the tourism industry

Singh says these $ 60 to $ 80 per night hotel room deals are becoming increasingly rare and prices are only expected to rise.

He said hotels and resorts feel safer, especially when people book in advance again.

Tourism is only likely to increase for summer trips

“People plan their vacations further out in summer,” said Singh. “That definitely gives the hotels a lot more stability and, in terms of pricing, so that they can think long-term about summer through autumn and winter.”

Airlines are part of a regulated industry and have not been able to comment on ticket price projections.

Anna Pidong, manager of Everlasting Services, said she is finding that the cost of flights to the mainland is also increasing.

Pidong said, “I’m going to LA right now before it was $ 300 and something, $ 370 or $ 400, that’s $ 600 now.”

But that doesn’t mean that good business is completely gone. Searching for airline tickets independently just takes a little more time, some research, and a flexible schedule.

Mufi Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, said these projections are not uncommon – especially as hotels and accommodations are gradually recovering.

“Given the profound economic impact of the pandemic on our industry, all hotels were actively looking for ways to postpone their costs to later dates. Now that demand is growing and business is starting to normalize, accommodations will try not only to generate income and get people back to work, but also to cater to the different needs of their respective properties, ”said Hannemann.

These unprecedentedly low travel prices are on the way out as vaccinations surge and COVID-19 restrictions relax across the country.

Singh said, “I would be referring to the past eight months, you know, the double-digit range is coming to an end.”