Hotel prices went up by 4 percent in the first half of the year, showing a recovery in the hotel industry, according to the Hotel Price Index by Hotels.com.

But that means travelers paid more on average for their hotel rooms during the first six months of 2012 in all parts of the world, with Europe and the Middle East region showing a 1 percent increase in hotel prices, 6 percent in the Pacific region, 5 percent in North America and 4 percent in Asia.

“The hotel industry bounced back in the first half of this year from a number of natural and political crises in 2011 and it is encouraging to see growth in the sector. While initially it may not seem good news for consumers, hotel prices are still only around their 2005 level, representing great value for travelers when both wages and other prices have risen considerably,” said David Roche, president of Hotels.com.

But Roche added that the growing trend remains to be watched in the second half of the year because of “mixed economic signals.” 

(wylee@heraldcorp.com)