For the weekend of the Eurovision, Airbnb operators in Liverpool are canceling existing reservations.
People’s pre-booked accommodations have been canceled with little notice only days after Ukraine confirmed the music contest will be held in the city.
Prices to stay in the city on the weekend of the Eurovision, which is on May 13, have skyrocketed since the news, with some Airbnb hosts advertising accommodations for more than £10,000.
According to Booking.com, all but a handful of the hotels it still has available in the city are selling for up to $2,000.
A couple will pay £5,760 for one night at the Eleanor Rigby Apartments Stanley Street on May 13, while a two-bedroom, “cozy” property in Liverpool will run you £5,375 and a ten-bedroom mansion would set you back over £8,000.
However, as hosts abruptly cancelled their arrangements, some knowledgeable Eurovision fans who had pre-booked lodging in the city in expectation that the competition would be hosted there were left disappointed.
Some even discovered that the lodging they had reserved had been re-advertised online at a much higher price.
Many people have vented their anger and criticism of the lodging websites on social media.
‘Was on the ball years ago and had hotel bookings on hold in Liverpool and Glasgow in anticipation of the Eurovision announcement on @bookingcom,’ said events manager Buzz O’Neill-Maxwell.
“Following this notification, the reservation is canceled” (nothing wrong with my credit card at all of course.) Absolute gamblers. Prices are crazy right now.
Another individual made a June reservation for an Airbnb in Liverpool and was astonished to learn that the host had canceled the day after the city was announced as the contest’s host city.
We are really looking forward to your visit, the email said. On certain days, however, the property will no longer be accessible. To obtain a complete refund, kindly accept the cancellation request.
The host apologized for the inaccuracy on the booking calendar when asked why the cancellation was being made.
And they’re not the only ones; one lady booked a hotel in Liverpool for a wedding that was scheduled for the same weekend only to discover that it had been postponed and the cost of a room had increased.
We had reserved four rooms for a wedding in Liverpool on May 13. Suddenly, I received a booking revision stating that my reservation is now for May 14.
“My reservation, which cost $260, is now $3,500.” Booking.com is now advocating for us.
Another guy said, “Booked and payed for a weekend Airbnb in Liverpool for the Eurovision.
“The booking has been canceled and re-listed with an eye-watering 204% rise after 12 hours.” Thank you, you utter scumbags.
The online travel agency lastminute.com has also drawn criticism when some of its hosts in Liverpool began canceling previously made reservations.
One lady wrote: “Liverpool hoteliers’ shocking profiteering.” In May, I reserved and paid for two nights, and I recently learned that my reservation has been canceled.
No explanation was provided. I made my reservation via lastminute.com, who informed me of the “rate hike.” I’m really appalled.
Another person commented: “Lastminute.com’s disgusting avarice and profiteering.”
‘I made a reservation for a hotel room in Liverpool for Eurovision, but the firm won’t honor it since they’ve realized they can now sell it for a much greater price.
“Won’t utilize them again.” presently lost room and cannot afford to make other reservations.
On Friday night’s episode of the BBC’s the One Show, Graham Norton revealed the location of the song contest.
After Glasgow and Liverpool were selected as the two finalists for the song contest, they engaged in a fight.
The following year’s song contest is often hosted by the previous year’s winner.
Ukraine won the 2022 tournament in Turin, Italy, in May. However, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) ruled that the nation could no longer securely host the event due to Russia’s invasion.
Sam Ryder’s performance helped the UK finish second, and it announced that it will host the tournament on behalf of the war-torn nation.
A comment from AirBnB, Booking.com, and Lastminute.com has all been requested.
The alleged behavior is allegedly prohibited.