AUGUST: Average Hotel Prices in Georgia and Hotel Price Index

PMCG RESEARCH - HOTEL PRICE INDEX

In Georgia, the average cost of a room¹ in a 3-star hotel was 147 GEL per night in August 2018. The most expensive 3-star hotels in August in Georgia were in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti - 177 GEL and Adjara – 164 GEL. The cheapest 3-star hotels in August in Georgia were found in Kvemo Kartli- 89 GEL and Imereti – 103 GEL.

The average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia in August 2018 was 253 GEL per night. The most expensive 4-star hotels for this month were found in Kakheti – 299 GEL and Samtskhe-Javakheti – 274 GEL. The cheapest 4-star hotels in August in Georgia were found in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti – 155 GEL and Imereti – 233 GEL.

The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in August 2018 was 455 GEL per night. In Tbilisi, the average price was 619 GEL, followed by Adjara – 393 GEL, Samtskhe-Javakheti - 383 GEL, and Kakheti - 357 GEL.

In August 2018, the average cost of a room in a guesthouse² in Georgia was 74 GEL per night. The highest daily rates for guesthouses were found in Guria – 138 GEL and Kvemo Kartli -107 GEL. The cheapest guesthouses in August in Georgia were found in Kakheti – 61 GEL, Imereti and Shida Kartli – 62 GEL.

In terms of apartments, on Airbnb in Georgia the average cost of an apartment in August was US$45. On Airbnb in Georgia, the price distribution among most visited destinations by international visitors is the following (in 2017)³: Tbilisi – US$42, Batumi - US$46, Kazbegi - US$50, Mtskheta - US$37, Gudauri - US$89, Kutaisi - US$31, Sighnaghi - US$27, Borjomi - US$32, Kobuleti - US$46.

Hotel Price Index

In August 2018, the hotel price index⁴ increased by 0.01% compared to July 2018. The daily rates for standard double hotel rooms increased the most in Guria – 7.6% and Imereti – 1.4%. Such price increase in Guria was mainly due to hotel price increases in Ureki (14%). The price increase in Imereti was mainly due to hotel price increases in Kutaisi (1.5%).

Among ten regions of Georgia and Tbilisi, in August 2018, compared to July 2017, hotel prices decreased in six regions. The prices decreased the most in Samtskhe-Javakheti and Mtskheta-Mtianeti, by 1.6% and 1.3% respectively. Price decrease in Samtskhe-Javakheti was mainly due to hotel price decreases in Bakuriani (4.7%). Price decrease in Mtskheta-Mtianeti was mainly due to hotel price decreases in Gudauri (10%).

The 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index decreased by 0.9% in August 2018 compared to July 2018. In these types of hotels, the highest price decreases were recorded in Mtskheta-Mtianeti (4.1%) and Samtskhe-Javakheti (3.4%). Price decrease in Mtskheta-Mtianeti was mainly due to 3, 4 and 5 star hotel price decreases in Gudauri, in Samtskhe-Javakheti – because of 3,4 and 5 star hotel price decreases in Borjomi. The 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price increased only in Guria and Kakheti, by 18.4% and 0.1% respectively. Price increase in Guria was primarily due to 3, 4 and 5 star hotel price increases in Ureki, in Kakheti – because of 3, 4 and 5 star hotel price increases in Telavi and Lagodekhi.

For guesthouses, the price index increased by 0.7% in August 2018 compared to July 2018. In this type of accommodation, the biggest percentage price increases for standard double rooms were recorded in Imereti (4.1%) and Adjara (2.2%). The price increase in Imereti was mainly due to price increase of guesthouses in Kutaisi, in Adjara because of price increases of guesthouses in Kobuleti and Makhinjauri. In this type of accommodation, the prices decreased the most in Kakheti and Shida Kartli in both by 0.9%. The price decrease in Kakheti was mainly due to price decrease of guesthouses in Telavi and Sighnaghi, in Shida Kartli because of price decreases of guesthouses in Surami.

1 The results are based on the surveying of standard double hotel room prices of 3, 4, 5-star hotels and guesthouses in 10 regions of Georgia. Hotels were chosen arbitrarily according to random sampling principle. The study contains 71% (312) of all 3, 4 and 5-star hotels and 25% (456 guesthouses) of all guesthouses registered on www.booking.com The 3, 4 and 5-star hotel price data was collected by contacting hotels individually, while the prices of guesthouses were taken from booking.com. The average prices are arithmetic mean of standard double hotel room prices.

2 Guesthouse: a type of accommodation that is characterized by having a small number of rooms and services are usually offered by the resident family.

3 Source: Georgian National Tourism Administration

4 The calculation of the hotel price index is based on the recommendations given by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The elementary aggregate price index is calculated by Jevons index (Consumer Price Index Manual-Theory and Practice (2004), Practical Guide to Producing Consumer Price Indices (2009)).

5 * Preliminary results