A week after Basel was chosen to host the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) next year, hotel prices are soaring in neighboring cities, Swiss public broadcaster RTS reports. In Zurich, overnight stays on the evening of the ESC final are being snapped up at a premium. At the Züri by Fassbind hotel, the average price on May 17 next year jumped from CHF283 to CHF704 ($336 to $835) for an identical selection of rooms. At the Nani City Hotel, the increase was from CHF186 to CHF444. RTS saw these practices on the booking.com platform, by comparing offers for the weekend of the ESC final with those for weekends prior to the contest. Of the twenty or so hotels considered, only four did not increase their rates. For others, increases ranged from +10% to +149% at Züri by Fassbind. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Owner Eric Fassbind told RTS that “rates are dynamic: when it’s busy, prices automatically go up.” However, he also points out that his hotel didn’t profit so ...
