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For Immediate Release
July 27, 2007
Mark Weller, 831-375-2246 x. 17

Monterey Bay Travelodge: Price-Gouger

The Monterey Bay Travelodge charged nearly three times its usual room rates during the recent MotoGP weekend, according to the motel’s own reservation website. The Travelodge, owned by Kilsoo Seo, advertised rates of $319 for a one-bed room on Saturday, July 21, 2007, while charging $109 for the same room on July 23. The listed price on subsequent Saturday’s, including August 11 and September 1, was $129 (downloaded on July 17, 2007).

Such extraordinary price increases by motels like the Travelodge are a deep concern of area community leaders. The Monterey County Herald (7/17/07 & 7/23/07) reports that price-gouging by area hotels and motels could threaten the future of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix motorcycle in Monterey—the event John McMahon, president and CEO of the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau describes as “probably one of the most revenue-generating weekends of the entire year."

The Herald writes, “For months, race fans from around the country and outside of the U.S. buzzed ... about exorbitant hotel rates, about canceled room reservations, about whether a return trip to Monterey would be worth their while …[J]ust how area lodgings will handle those fans — and their dollars — is an issue that could affect the event's presence in Monterey, said Gill Campbell, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca chief executive officer.”

The Herald report points with particular concern to motels charging $300 or more a night over the busy race weekend. Monterey Peninsula Reservations owner, Donna Ibens is quoted, "The prices are scaring people a bit. I've had a lot of calls and they don't want to pay $300 a night." Susanna Schick, a race fan interviewed by the Herald, is “fed up” with “unfair pricing” and says “a $300 motel room is out of line.”

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