Prince Albert hotels upping prices after evacuations: visitor

La Loche's Dale Petit has stayed in Prince Albert hotels many times before, but this week he was surprised when he received his bills.

Petitsaid room prices at two different hotels increased since the last time he stayed there.

"We found one room at a different hotel. Their regular rate was $125, and we had to pay $190-some with taxes. Yesterday we finally found a room here (at the Holiday Inn Express). Their regular rate was $170-$175, and I'm paying $293 with taxes," Petit said.

"I find it ridiculous," he added.

Petit said he can't help but wonder if the increase in prices has to do with the increased demand for rooms due to evacuations from areas plagued by forest fires.

He told CBC News the more expensive rooms could put additional stress on evacuees who may have few other options.

Although Petit is from La Loche, where there was amandatory evacuation order, he didn't leave becauseheowns a small business and needed to stay behind to run it. Hesaid many of his fellowcommunity members left andstayedin Prince Albert.

Petit isin the city to care for his hospitalized mother, togetherwith his partner, daughter, and granddaughter. Like his fellow community members who evacuated La Loche, hesaid he doesn't have many options for accommodations either. It's tough to find a hotel room, nevermind an affordable one.

'What choice do I have when you have a nine-month-old granddaughter with me? - Dale Petit

"What choice do I have when you have a nine-month-old granddaughter with me? I have to get a hotel room, I can't sleep in my vehicle with her," Petit said.

Fluctuating prices

Petit didn't stay at Prince Albert's Travelodge, but the general manager there, Mona Selanderstold CBC News some hotels choose to increase prices as demand increases, but the localTravelodgedoesn't operate that way.

"The same thing happens in the airline industry," Selanders said. "If you go online, you can see airline prices fluctuate. Hotel businesses can do the same thing if you choose to. Some people choose to, we choose not to."

She said many hotels, including the Travelodgehave a special room rate that Red Cross pays for evacuees. Some people who have left their communities pay for their own rooms, though.

Selanders said the hotel'syear-round rate is $125 per night for a typical room with one king-sized or two queen-sized beds.

She added that about85 per cent of people staying at theTravelodgeare evacuees. Many other hotels are full due to the increased demand lately.

JordanWorrall, the manager of communications forThe Holiday Inn andExpress brands said the Prince Albert location, which is independently owned, determines its own pricing.

"According to a hotel representative, peak summer travel season and area events, as well as significant corporate travel to Prince Albert area is driving current rates at the hotel, which are relatively consistent with rates during the same period last year,"Worrallsaid in anemail.