Hotel rates in the Federal District soar for the presidential inauguration, and district lawmaker turns to prosecutors
A survey shows prices up to five times higher than on New Year's Eve and reports of reservations suddenly canceled.
Translated from the Portuguese original by the Panorama newsroom. Read in Portuguese
Summary written by the Panorama newsroom from the sources listed below. Facts are attributed to the original publications.
Lodging prices in the Federal District have soared for the date of the presidential inauguration, January 5, g1 reported. The ceremony is two months away, but daily rates already appear up to five times higher than on other dates.
A TV Globo survey of a single hotel in the Setor Hoteleiro Norte shows a nightly rate of R$ 1,100 between December 31 and January 2, a period already expensive because of New Year, and R$ 5,223 between January 4 and 6. At another establishment, the price rises from R$ 664 at New Year's to R$ 7,180 for the inauguration.
District Representative Fábio Félix analyzed 360 properties, turned to the Public Prosecutor's Office over what he called abusive prices and filed a complaint with Procon (the consumer protection agency). In one case, the increase reached 23.5 times for the same accommodation.
Those who managed to book before the increase also face sudden cancellations, according to the report.