UEFA Champions League Final in Budapest: Hotel Prices Soar, Tourism Impact Expected The UEFA Champions League final will take place in Budapest on June 1 and 2, 2024, at the Puskás Aréna, a state-of-the-art stadium in the capital. The venue was selected by the UEFA Executive Committee during a meeting in Dublin on May 22, 2024, securing the event against the Milan-based San Siro. The match, considered the pinnacle of football, is expected to draw an estimated 250,000 visitors to the city, though this figure is described as exaggerated. The UEFA has allocated 12,700 tickets for each team’s supporters, with remaining seats reserved for neutral fans, journalists, and sponsors. Over 4,000 Hungarian police officers will ensure security, while the Liszt Ferenc International Airport’s Terminal 1 has been opened to accommodate fans arriving by air. The event has triggered a dramatic surge in hotel prices across Budapest. Accommodation rates have skyrocketed, with some properties charging up to 990 euros for a two-night stay in a double room, including breakfast, at the Danubius Group’s Hotel Aréna. This price, equivalent to approximately 350,000 Hungarian forint, is significantly higher than the average. At the Mercure Budapest Castle Hill, a four-star hotel, the reception manager confirmed that the website is currently unavailable for bookings, with no available rooms. However, she hinted that the site might be accessible on the day of the match. Tourism expert Kiss Róbert Richárd noted that Budapest’s hotels are operating at 97% occupancy, far exceeding the same period last year. While some rooms remain available, the market is nearly saturated. He emphasized that Budapest is not an island, unlike destinations such as the Maldives, where total occupancy is common.#uefa_champions_league #pusks_arena #danubius_group #mercure_budapest_castle_hill #liszt_ferenc_international_airport
