Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has blasted hotels and businesses for 'grossly inflating' prices for rooms around the time of next year's Eurovision Song Contest.
The region's leader was reacting to reports of hotels, guest hoses and other accommodation venues hiking up prices following the news that Liverpool will host the international contest next May.
A look on Booking.com shows multiple single person rooms being priced up for well over £1,000 for the night of May 13 2023, when the song contest will be held in the city. On social media, some people shared screenshots of eye-watering room prices of £6,5000 for a four-night stay in the city.
READ MORE: Liverpool hotel warning after Eurovision price hike
Speaking today, Mayor Rotheram said: "For many visiting us next year, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make memories at an event that promises to be a special occasion for those present and for the millions watching at home. For our area it is a fantastic chance to showcase all that is good in a great city - and beyond.
"Eurovision is supposed to be an occasion where everybody comes together in the name of peace, love and understanding. It is a multi-cultural spectacular."
He added: "That is why it is so disappointing to see some businesses in our region, who have jumped at the chance to grossly inflate prices - with some even cancelling existing bookings, only to re-advertise the same thing at many times the previous price."
Mayor Rotheram said he "understands how the hotel industry operates" and that demand will be "unprecedented", but he said there must be a "measure of control" to this decision. He said he has called such behaviour out before such as when football fans have been ripped off for flights and accommodation.
He added: "I do not want anybody to be prevented from visiting our great city region because it has been made financially restrictive."
The city region leader said he will be speaking to political colleagues about how to response and will make representations in the coming days.
He added: "Hopefully it won't be too late to come to a resolution that ensures as many people as possible are able to come and experience Eurovision in our region."
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