On your marks for the big Olympics rip-off (From Worcester News)

On your marks for the big Olympics rip-off

12:20pm Thursday 2nd August 2012 in Read

SIR – London’s hosting of the Olympics has given hundreds of companies a golden opportunity to boost their profits – and boy are they taking full advantage of it.

For the day after the opening ceremony I had booked an overnight stay with a well known hotel chain as my wife and I were going to see a West End show with friends who were on holiday from California.

On previous visits to the capital we had paid £60 for a double room with the same chain.

This time the cost had soared to £120. We arrived two hours before the official booking-in time of 3pm, and asked if we could get into the room earlier to freshen up.

Yes, but it would add £10 to the bill. Why the extra charge if the room had already been cleaned? “It’s the Olympics”

came the reply.

Am I mistaken or has the law of supply and demand suddenly become the law of stand and deliver?

We paid up – £130 for a room with the barest of essentials and breakfast only if we were prepared to pay for it as an extra.

We did not bother to enquire the cost of that and beat a hasty retreat soon after dawn while we were still relatively solvent.

JOHN ABBS

Kempsey