Taylor Swift fans selling concert tickets as accommodation costs skyrocket

High hotel prices for out-of-town fans

Kelly Hall from Oshawa, Ontario, was thrilled to secure tickets to Swift’s December 8 concert in Vancouver. However, her excitement dwindled when she discovered that hotel prices in Vancouver were a minimum of $1,200 per night during the concert weekend. Hall, a financial adviser, planned to attend the concert with her husband and a friend, but when they saw that accommodation costs for three nights could total between $3,000 and $5,000, they decided to sell their tickets.

Rising room rates and short-term rentals

During Swift's concert dates in Toronto and Vancouver, hotel prices have risen significantly. Rooms at the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel, connected to Rogers Centre, are listed at approximately $2,000 per night, a substantial increase from the usual $240. In Vancouver, hotel prices have climbed from $300 per night to $3,000 per night during Swift's stay. Short-term rental platforms like Airbnb and VRBO reflect similar increases. For example, a Vancouver apartment listed on VRBO, typically priced at $820 per night, is available for $7,500 per night during the concert dates.

Ticket bartering for accommodation

Heather Cox, a fan from Atlanta, Georgia, took a different approach to handle high hotel prices. After securing six tickets to Swift’s December 7 concert, Cox arranged to trade one of her tickets for a four-night stay at another fan’s penthouse in Vancouver. Hotel prices were out of reach for Cox, so this exchange proved a beneficial alternative. She and the fellow fan signed a barter agreement to ensure a secure exchange, with both parties feeling it was a fair trade given the costs of tickets and lodging near the venue.

Reaction to price spike in accommodations

Alexander Cohen, spokesperson for Canada’s tourism ministry, acknowledged the situation by stating that “the federal government is concerned by reports of high prices for hotels in Toronto and Vancouver during Swift’s concerts.” However, he also noted that provincial jurisdictions manage consumer protection laws. Ontario's Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery reminded businesses that they are prohibited from engaging in unfair practices, but did not specifically address hotel prices related to Swift’s tour dates.

With rising accommodation costs, Taylor Swift fans are finding inventive ways, like bartering tickets for lodging, to participate in the concert without breaking the bank. Amid these high expenses, Swift's fan community is showing support, with fans collaborating to make concert attendance possible, despite financial hurdles.

source: CBC