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The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has called for a “more sensible approach” to the planning and timing of big events in Scotland’s capital as it emerged hotel prices have already started to skyrocket around a blockbuster Bon Jovi stadium concert next summer. Tickets for the Bon Jovi concert, at Murrayfield Stadium on August 28 on the final weekend of the city's festival season, went on sale last week. An investigation by The Scotsman found some hotel rates have soared by more than 50 per cent for the weekend, compared with other weekends during the festival period. The Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh's West End - close to where the gig is taking place - is charging £1,048 for a two-night stay in a twin room for the weekend of the concert. The previous weekend, when the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has already begun, but Edinburgh is not hosting a major concert, the same room is on sale for just £698 for two nights. Meanwhile, the Yotel, on Edinburgh's Queen Street, is offering a room for £936 for two nights on the weekend of the Bon Jovi concert, compared to £700 seven days earlier. Airbnb accommodation for the weekend is advertised at up to £4,596 for two nights in one three-bedroom property in Edinburgh’s New Town. Subscribe today to the Scotsman’s Arts newsletter Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the city during the festivals period in August, when not only the Fringe, but the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh International Book Festival and many other events are taking place. The price of accommodation during the Fringe has been cited as a barrier for artists being able to perform at the festivals, as well as being given as a reason for visitors cutting short their stays in the city. A spokesperson for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said: “The timing of other large-scale events in Edinburgh in August puts unnecessary additional pressure on an already busy city when Edinburgh's major summer festivals are taking place. “We see this impact, particularly, on the cost and availability of accommodation for audiences and artists, which detracts from everyone’s experience of the city, and we would urge a more sensible approach to the planning and timing of big events so that an Edinburgh visit can be a positive experience for everyone.” Last year, Fringe chief executive Tony Lankester said major stadium gigs taking place during the festival season was not something he "would actively encourage". He said it put additional pressure on accommodation - and took audience away from festival shows. Venue operators claimed last summer’s Oasis gigs, which took place during the Fringe, had hit ticket sales, particularly for less well-known artists. Chris Greenwood, senior research fellow at the Moffat Centre for Travel and Tourism Business Development at Glasgow Caledonian University, said hotel prices in the Scottish capital increased by 3.7 per cent last summer compared to 12 months earlier. He said he expected this trend to continue into next year, particularly around key events such as the Bon Jovi concert. A 5 per cent visitor levy is also due to be introduced next year by Edinburgh City Council, which experts claim will push prices higher. Mr Greenwood described advertised rates for hotels over the Bon Jovi concert weekend as “Taylor Swift prices”. The US star played three sold-out shows at Murrayfield Stadium in June last year as part of her Eras Tour. Mr Greenwood said: “We saw this with Taylor Swift. That was the first one, then there was Oasis. But it's pretty consistent that demand increases, and also because the tickets go on sale so far in advance, the prices go up earlier. “Overall, hotel prices have been going up. There is demand for accommodation, particularly in Edinburgh, and I suspect that will follow through to next year.” He added: “There's been a lot of change in consumer behaviour towards using things like these concerts or other major events as a catalyst to travel. People within the UK are generally taking fewer trips, but maybe spend a little more on the trips that they do, take, which explains why there's maybe fewer domestic trips. But certainly for something like Bon Jovi or Oasis or Taylor Swift, they're prepared to spend a lot. “People are spending hundreds on a ticket, then are happy to pay for the accommodation as well, but that would possibly be somebody's summer holiday. They might not take the trip abroad, or maybe have the trip down to Center Parcs in October, but they're doing that instead.” Leon Thompson, executive director of UKHospitality Scotland, said: "Edinburgh's visitor levy coming into effect from 24 July next year will inevitably increase hotel prices, given the 5 per cent charge it imposes on consumers directly. "UKHospitality Scotland, alongside accommodation businesses and other organisations, warned this would be the case and we are now starting to see the reality of the levy." Edinburgh Council culture and communities convener Margaret Graham said: “Edinburgh consistently ranks highly as a great place to live and work and that is in no small part due to having such having a vibrant, varied and world renowned cultural and events sector. “Bon Jovi is the latest in the long line of world-class acts to choose Edinburgh and I know that, like me, many of our residents will be looking forward to next summer’s concert. “We proved this summer that, thanks to meticulous planning with police, promotors, venues, and other partners, including local residents, we can successfully host large-scale concerts at the same time as our summer festivals. And I have every confidence we can do so again next August.”
