Ukraine vows to cut Euro hotel costs

An overnight stay in Kiev expected to reach staggering $332.

KIEV: The 2012 European championships co-hosts Ukraine have promised to cut hotel costs during the event, amid concerns that prices are being cranked up to sky-high levels due to a lack of supply.

“The country’s government will find ways to make the costs of staying during the Euro-2012 more acceptable for our guests,” said Deputy Prime Minister Borys Kolesnikov. “We forgave our hotels their debts 10 years ago to stimulate their development. We counted on their loyalty but they lifted the prices.

“However, our government has enough power to reduce their appetite.” Ukraine’s media expressed deep concern with hotel capacity in some of the Euro-2012 host cities and the high cost of staying in Kiev.

An overnight stay in Kiev during the tournament is expected to reach a staggering $332, compared with $149 in Warsaw.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2012.