London hotels cashing in on royal wedding fever

LONDON - Hotels in London are hiking their prices by up to 200 per cent as tourists line up to be in the British capital for the royal wedding.

Ever since Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding date was announced, hotels in the capital and travel agents have been inundated with requests for rooms, reports the Daily Express.

Moreover, an influx of foreign visitors, the fact that the Friday has been declared a bank holiday, turning the May Day weekend into a four-day holiday, has added to the demand from residents in Britain.

Bars and pubs, showing the wedding on widescreen TVs, are also expecting a huge turnout for the day and special cakes and goodies for street parties are already being prepared.

The Athenaeum, on Piccadilly, said its unique rooftop view over Green Park had sparked hundreds of inquiries and rooms normally sold at 300 pounds would be 500 pounds.

Many landmark hotels, such as the Dorchester, are fully booked. A spokeswoman for the luxury venue said as it is likely to be a preferred choice for wedding guests it will not be offering special packages. (ANI)