Hotels.com says the global average price its customers paid for hotel rooms increased just 1% in the first six months of 2015 compared with the previous year.
It says Australian hotel room increased just 2% over the same period, although in some markets rates fell sharply.
“Darwin saw the steepest decline with the average price paid falling 20% year on year to $170 a night,” Hotel.com’s latest Price Index reveals.
“Launceston saw the second highest drop, falling 6% to $133 a night.
“Hotel prices paid rose only slightly in the eastern seaboard cities of Sydney (4%) to $208 per night and Melbourne (5%) to $177, while Brisbane declined a percentage point to $168 per night.
“The tourist mecca of Port Douglas showed the highest percentage rise, with prices paid increasing by 14% to $200 per night.”
Australian hotel prices paid by travellers in H1 2015:
| Destination | H1 2015 | H1 2014 | % change |
| Whitsunday Islands | $244 | $234 | 4% |
| Sydney | $208 | $199 | 4% |
| Port Douglas | $200 | $176 | 14% |
| Sunshine Coast | $193 | $183 | 5% |
| Canberra | $188 | $189 | -1% |
| Perth | $188 | $193 | -3% |
| Byron Bay | $183 | $182 | 1% |
| Scarborough | $179 | $187 | -4% |
| Melbourne | $177 | $168 | 5% |
| Gold Coast | $177 | $171 | 3% |
| Newcastle | $176 | $166 | 6% |
| Hobart | $172 | $170 | 1% |
| Darwin | $170 | $212 | -20% |
| Blue Mountains | $170 | $178 | -4% |
| Brisbane | $168 | $169 | -1% |
| Hunter Valley | $168 | $169 | -1% |
| Adelaide | $156 | $152 | 3% |
| Cairns | $150 | $144 | 4% |
| Launceston | $133 | $141 | -6% |