According to thehotels.comHotel Price Index (HPI), business travel to many of the world's economic hotspots increased in the first half of 2011, with hotel prices in many top business capitals rising year-over-year. These findings are consistent with theGlobal Business Travel Association'sprojection that worldwide business travel spending will rise 9.2% in 2011. However, while the average price of a hotel room around the world rose 3%, many major business cities watched hotel prices drop due to natural disasters and unforeseeable political revolutions.

The hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI)is a regular survey of hotel prices in major city destinations across the world. The HPI is based on actual bookings made on hotels.com and prices shown are those paid by customers (rather than advertised rates) for the first half of 2011. The report largely compares prices paid in 2010 with prices paid in 2011.

"We have been following the rebound of business travel closely, and were pleasantly surprised by the findings of our most recentHotel Price Index," saidVictor Owens, vice president of marketingNorth Americafor Hotels.com. "Prices in major business and convention cities, includingNew York,Chicago,London,ParisandBeijingincreased year-over-year, confirming research that indicates business travel is rebounding."

Last year's Hotel Price Index found Asian cities to be gaining popularity amongst business travelers, a trend that is continuing. Average prices for hotel rooms throughoutAsiafell by 8% from the first half of 2010 to the first half of 2011, however individual markets in the region increased dramatically. Hotel prices inSingaporeincreased 18% year-over-year, and room rates inHong Kongjumped 24%, from an average of$142per night in 2010 to$176in 2011.

Another part of the world that has attracted business travelers in recent years is theMiddle East. However, this year's political and social unrest related to the Arab Spring had a significant negative impact on countries in theMiddle Eastand beyond. Falling prices were seen throughout the region, even in areas not directly involved with the uprising. Average hotel room prices inDubai, the golden city of theUnited Arab Emiratesonce touted for great promise in both the business and leisure sectors, fell slightly by 3%. Unsurprisingly, prices fell by 45% inGiza, Egypt, and 23% inBeirut, Lebanon, cities closely associated with the revolution.

Natural disasters also had a damaging effect on major business capitals. InJapan, prices dropped across the country due to theMarch 11earthquake and resulting tsunami that devastated the region.Tokyo, a rising star from 2010, made a dramatic drop to twenty-sixth place from its eighth place position last year on the list of destinations most visited by Americans. Prices also fell 15% inKyotoand 7% inOsaka, despite being nearly 400 miles from Sendai, the city closest to the epicenter of the earthquake.

When analyzing fluctuations in hotel room prices, one important factor to consider is hotel development. As demand for hotels has increased, so has supply, which acts as a brake on prices. According to theJuly 2011STR Global Construction Pipeline Report, there are still nearly 6,000 new hotel projects in development around the world, adding more than 900,000 hotel rooms. Monitoring hotel development can help explain shifts in prices, especially in cities where business travel continues to rebound.