Hotwire Reveals Canadian Hotel Rate Report for December 2009

    
    Edmonton and Winter Hotspot Calgary Top List




    
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<p><location>SAN FRANCISCO</location>, <chron>Dec. 15</chron> /CNW/ -- Hotwire.com®, a leading discount travel site, today announced the results of the December Hotwire® Canadian Hotel Rate Report. This monthly report features the top five cities in <location>Canada</location> where hotel rates have dropped the most. When combined with Hotwire's already discounted prices, the Hotel Rate Report helps guide customers to the destinations that will maximize their travel dollars. This month, <location>Edmonton</location>, home to the West <location>Edmonton</location> Mall, the largest shopping mall in <location>North America</location>, topped the list with a rate drop of 12 percent. Also making the list are tourist friendly destinations <location>Calgary</location>, Niagara Falls, and <location>Montreal</location> (percent drops of 7, 6 and 6, respectively).</p>
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<p>Overall, price drops have tightened up a bit as rates last year were unseasonably low due to the recession and the fluctuating Canadian dollar. Still, with leisure travel down and the winter sports season in full swing, hotels, such as those in hotspots like <location>Calgary</location>, are lowering rates in hopes of luring ski and snowboard enthusiasts. In addition, popular cities like <location>Montreal</location> and <location>Toronto</location> are offering great deals this month to peak travelers' interest before <location>Vancouver</location> steals the limelight with the Winter Olympics.</p>
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<p>Hotwire is able to find great deals because it works with hotels, airlines and car rental companies to fill unsold inventory, which means that customers will find deals that they won't see anywhere else, especially in cities like those on the Hotel Rate Report where prices are unseasonably low.</p>
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<p>When compared to the same time last year, the top five hotel price reductions for <chron>December 2009</chron> include:</p>
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                                             Example of a
    Rank    Hotel Market     Price Drop  Current Hotwire Deal   CAD$/Night
     1     Edmonton, AL         12%            3-star              $99
     2     Calgary, AL           7%            3-star             $111
     3     Niagara Falls, ON     6%            4-star              $91
     4     Montreal, QB          6%            3.5-star            $87
     5     Toronto, ON           5%            4-star             $103



    
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<p>"Canadians and travelers from abroad can still get some great deals, especially in cities like <location>Calgary</location> that have lots of winter sport activities," said Clem Bason, President of the Hotwire Group. "Hotels really want to bring in winter sports business, so we expect to see low rates throughout the season."</p>
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    About the Hotwire Hotel Rate Report
    
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<p>The Hotwire Hotel Rate Report will run results during the first week of each month. Results are calculated by looking at Hotwire stay dates for select regions in the current month, and comparing prices in the current month against Hotwire prices in the same month in the prior year. Prices are compared within the same star rating categories for consistency, and the percent change in price for each region is generated as an overall average of the changes in those categories. The prices in the chart above are examples for a particular star rating category within that market, and actual prices may be higher or lower than the example that is provided.</p>
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    About Hotwire
    
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<p>Hotwire.com is a leading discount travel site with low rates on airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. Launched in 2000, Hotwire negotiates deep discounts from its travel suppliers to help travelers book unsold airline seats, hotel rooms and rental cars. J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Independent Travel Web Site Satisfaction Study(SM) recognized Hotwire for ranking "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Independent Travel Web Sites, Three Years in a Row." Hotwire is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. CST: 2053390-40. NST: 20003-0209. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.hotwire.com/">http://www.hotwire.com/</a>.</p>
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<p>Hotwire, Hotwire.com and the Hotwire logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotwire, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners. © 2009 Hotwire, Inc. All rights reserved. CST# 2053390-40.</p>
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    Contact:
    Chris Fucanan
    Atomic PR
    [phone]
    [email protected]






    

For further information: Chris Fucanan, of Atomic PR, [phone], [email protected], for Hotwire.com Web Site: http://www.hotwire.com