Dublin hotels and guesthouses have substantially increased their prices for the weekend of U2's three Irish concerts on June 24th, 25th and 27th.
In some cases, hotels are charging 100 per cent more for accommodation for the U2 weekend, than the following or previous weekends.
A double room for one night in the Gresham Hotel, including service charge and breakfast, for June 24th and 25th costs €403.63. This compares with €240 for a double room with breakfast and service in the Gresham on Friday or Saturday, July 1st or 2nd, according to a survey by The Irish Times.
The hotel said yesterday the double room rate for June 24th and 25th was €325, but a 12.5 per cent service charge brought the price to €365.63. Breakfast was extra at €19 each.
On Monday 27th, the date for U2's final concert, the Gresham is charging €263 for a double room, including service and breakfast for two. However, the cost of a double room the following Monday is €175, including breakfast - a difference of €88.
A spokesperson for the hotel said there were rooms available on Friday 24th but that the hotel was fully booked on Saturday 25th.
The Dublin City Travelodge in Rathmines said yesterday it was fully booked for the nights of the 24th and 25th but, on Monday 27th, it had rooms available at €139, excluding breakfast. A week before, on Monday, June 20th, it is charging €69.
The Clarence Hotel, in which Bono and The Edge are shareholders, said yesterday standard superior double rooms were still available for Friday 24th for €350, including VAT but excluding breakfast. There are no rooms available on the 25th or 27th.
The following weekend, the superior room is not available but a bigger room, the de luxe double room, is available for €305, excluding breakfast. The Friday after that, July 8th, the superior double room is available for €240, excluding breakfast - €110 less than than on the opening night of U2's concerts.
Dublin's Harcourt Hotel is fully booked for the 24th and 25th but said it charged customers €234 for a double room, including breakfast. The following weekend, it is charging €160 for the same room, including breakfast - a difference of €74. It is charging €105 for a double room with breakfast on Monday 27th, and the same the next Monday.
Wynn's Hotel said it had one double room left on Monday, June 27th for €165, including breakfast. The following week, it is offering the same deal for €123, a difference of €42. The hotel is fully booked for the weekend nights of the concert, but rooms had been available for €165.
The Glen Guesthouse in Dublin said yesterday it had no rooms available on the 24th and 25th, but had charged €95 a room. It had rooms available on Monday 27th at €95 a room, excluding breakfast. It said its usual mid-week rate was €75 but, due to demand, it was charging the higher rate of €95.
Jurys Hotel on Parnell Street confirmed that its rate did rise on the Friday and Saturday of the concert, but a spokesperson said the room rate did not exceed €152 on the Saturday, including breakfast. On Monday, June 27th, the cost of a double room and breakfast for two is €152. The following Monday, a double room and breakfast for two costs €121.
The Temple Bar Hotel is booked out for the three concert dates and said it had not significantly increased room prices. Double rooms on Monday 27th had been available up to €170. The following Monday, double rooms were available for €144. Friday and Saturday nights were fully booked up at the hotel for the next few weekends and all rooms had cost €200 per night.
The Clarion Hotel said it had no double rooms available for the concert weekend, but double rooms were still available on Monday 27th for €220, including breakfast. The following Monday, the same room costs €195, with breakfast.
The Morrison Hotel said the majority of double rooms on Monday 27th had cost €220, and the highest rate was €284. The following Monday, it had double rooms for €216.50.
Many of the hotels stated that room prices vary in line with supply and demand.