The solar eclipse that will cast a visible shadow across the United States on Monday is already leaving a clear mark on hotel prices.
The Super 8 hotel chain is considered an inexpensive option for travelers, and it has more than 1,400 American locations. About 300 of those were on track for totality, and 100 of those were sold out for Sunday or Monday, according to Super 8’s website.
About 45 percent of the Super 8s within 25 miles of the central thoroughfare that still have vacancies are listing rooms for at least double their usual price. A Super 8 in Grayville, Ill., advertised $949 per night for a Sunday-Tuesday stay. Its normal advertised nightly rate is $95.
A representative from Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Super 8’s parent company, said each Super 8 is an individually operated franchise that sets its own rates, although all franchise owners have access to revenue management software they can use to set a pricing strategy.
More expensive hotels in big cities are also seeing an increase. The Ritz-Carlton in Dallas currently lists a two-night stay at $7,600 for Sunday-Tuesday. A week later, the price for a two-night stay will be $1,329.
The data for the map was created by comparing the lowest non-member price for a stay on April 7-9 with the same Sunday-Tuesday one week before and one week after.
Even Super 8 hotels in Glendale, Ariz., site of the men’s NCAA basketball tournament final, which takes place Monday, won’t exceed eclipse prices. Many Super 8 locations near Augusta, Ga., home of the Masters golf tournament starting next week, are either sold out or have prices above their average — which explains the map dots near the Augusta area.
Thelma Diller, who works at the Super 8 in Malvern, Ark., said she was at the hotel Monday and “hoped” to watch the eclipse. He said the hotel was sold out almost a year ago. “I worked here almost 20 years,” he said. “It’s very rare.”
