Art Basel Sending Miami Hotel Rates 284% Above Usual

December 5, 2012

As Art Basel fast approaches this upcoming weekend, finding a hotel room in Miami is going to be an expensive proposition. The world’s premier international art show, the event is causing hotels in the Miami region to fill up. It’s also responsible for sky-high rates at those establishments that still have rooms available. MiamiHotels.org made these discoveries after conducting a recent survey of the various leading hotel-booking sites. All available hotels and their rates were established based on the research generated by the survey.

Eleventh-hour show attendees will want to steer clear of one area in particular. Because most of the show’s main exhibits are held there, 70% of South Beach Miami’s hotels are already sold out. As a result, accommodation owners are slapping guests with exorbitant prices. Those establishments that are fortunate to still have vacancies are profiting from the lack of supply and jacking up their rates substantially. South Beach travelers can expect to pay, on average about 125% more than they typically would. Some hotels are, however, taking advantage of guests even more.

The Fashionhaus Hotel, for example, has increased its rate for a suite by 234%. This Art Deco establishment is leveraging its desirable location near the beach with price hikes to $999 nightly during Art Basel versus the usual $299 per night. Percentage-wise, the Royal South Beach Hotel outdoes even that cost elevation. It too being located near the beach, a studio in this 2-star hotel will cost Art Basel attendees $599 for an overnight stay. That’s 284% more than it would normally set them back.

In South Beach, Art Basel attendees will currently have to spend around $300 per night for the cheapest available room. That’s assuming they want to stay in a minimum 3-star hotel. More affordable rates are available a few miles north in Miami Beach, where out-of-town visitors can find a room for around $180 nightly. Budget travelers also have the option of staying around the Miami airport, where they can still find a room in a decent 3-star accommodation for $100 per night.

The following table shows the 10 hotels in Miami South Beach with the highest percentage rate increases for the weekend of Art Basel, December 7–9.

Name of Hotel	Room Type	Regular	Super Bowl	Increase
Royal South Beach Hotel	Studio	$156	$599	+284%
Fashionhaus Hotel	Suite	$299	$999	+234%
Hotel Astor Rating	Superior Double	$204	$582	+185%
President Hotel	Penthouse Room	$167	$466	+179%
The Penguin	Standard Double	$128	$337	+163%
Island House	Standard Double	$114	$258	+126%
Z Ocean Hotel	Superior	$285	$624	+119%
Winter Haven	Superior	$159	$349	+119%
Haddon Hall Hotel	Standard	$106	$213	+101%
Essex House Hotel	2 Beds	$240	$470	+96%