Hotels in Paris are experiencing an increase in activity thanks to the organization of the Rugby World Cup in France. Since the competition began on September 8th, hotels in Paris and its surrounding suburbs have seen their activity increase by an estimated 5 to 10 percent.
With 600,000 foreign supporters expected to visit France during the tournament, British group IHG Hotel & Resorts, the official hotel partner of the European Professional Club Rugby, has shared its initial findings. “For the period from September 8th to October 28th, the average duration of bookings has increased by 26 percent compared to the same period last year, with an increase of more than 2 nights per stay.”
September is usually a busy month in Paris with events like Fashion Week and Heritage Days. With the Rugby World Cup, hotel occupancy rates have stabilized and average prices have increased by 20 to 30 percent, which is very positive.
According to Franck Trouet, the general delegate of the National Group of Independent Hotels and Restaurants of Paris Île-de-France, the occupancy rate is high on match days, which are mostly on weekends. Typically, weekends are less busy because business clientele are absent. However, during the Rugby World Cup, hotel prices do not decrease.
IHG Hotel & Resorts also notes that two-thirds of current bookings for the period are group reservations. The influx of English supporters, for example, was evident with 30,000 fans in Lille, many of whom could be seen taking the train from Gare du Nord, according to Frank Delvau, president of Umih Île-de-France.
On the opening night of the France vs. New Zealand match, IHG Hotel & Resorts recorded occupancy rates exceeding 80 percent. According to Eric Viale, the group’s general manager for southern Europe, similar peaks in occupancy were observed during events like the UEFA Champions League final and Roland-Garros.
The latest data from the Paris Tourism Office confirms an increase in foreign tourists in the Greater Paris area during the first 20 days of September, with a 10.6 percent growth compared to 2022. These observations apply not only to Paris but also to nearby towns like Versailles, Croissy-sur-Seine, and Rueil-Malmaison.
Furthermore, international arrivals scheduled for Paris in October are also expected to increase by 16.3 percent, with markets from Australia (+34 percent), New Zealand (+174.9 percent), and South Africa (+448 percent) showing strong growth.
Although these trends may seem exceptional, they are considered “anecdotal” in relation to the number of French tourists, who make up more than half of the visitors, coming to the capital to enjoy the rugby festivities. Frederic Hocquard, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of tourism, notes that while New Zealand had 6,000 visitors and Australia had 30,000, the majority of visitors during the World Cup will be French, as with the upcoming Olympics, which is expected to attract 14 million visitors.
While the enthusiasm in bars has been slightly more subdued, except on match nights for the French team, it is expected to increase as the tournament reaches its final stages. Hotels anticipate last-minute bookings once the quarterfinals and semifinals teams are determined, according to Franck Trouet. The Tourism Office predicts that the first week of October will have an occupancy rate of over 75 percent.
Overall, Parisian hotels are pleased with the Rugby World Cup, which serves as a successful test run before the Olympics, as historically September is already a good month for tourism in the city, concludes Franck Trouet.
