During the Masterclass which can be watched at http://youtu.be/S45AYGYIDL4 the star chef  gives a step-by-step guide and his secret tips to viewers on how to transform chicken, bacon, lettuce, tomato, hard boiled eggs, dijonnaise and toast into a delicious culinary creation. 

The video has been created to mark the launch of the Hotels.com Club Sandwich Index which uses the most common dish on a hotel menu as a measure of affordability, to give holiday-makers an indication of the costs associated with their holiday destination.

In the Index, Paris was found to be the most expensive city in the world to order a Club with the average cost coming in at £20.43, while in the second most expensive city, Geneva, the sandwich costs an average of £20.10, followed closely by £18.83 for a Club in Oslo.

John Torode said: “For me the Club Sandwich tells you all you need to know about a great hotel. Hotels.com has surveyed 750 hotels in more than 25 countries to give you an indication of the price point of a great Club Sandwich.”

To learn how to make the perfect Club Sandwich or see where your country comes in the Club Sandwich Index http://youtu.be/S45AYGYIDL4.

John Torode’s top tips:

1. Stacking is important so when you go to eat it, it doesn’t falls apart
2. Don’t butter your Club Sandwich, use mayo, and lots of it
3. The most important thing is, it’s got to be cold. A Club Sandwich should be a cold dish and served with hot chips
4. Don’t squash down the middle of the sandwich or the filling will fall out. Push down on the edge of the sandwich to hold it in place

Ingredients (cold):

Bacon, poached chicken, lettuce, tomato, hard boiled eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard

Instructions:

1. Thinly sliced the chicken, egg, tomatoes and iceberg lettuce  
2. Toast the bread and mix the mayonnaise and mustard to create Dijonnaise and spread the Dijonnaise on one side of each slice 
3. Add the bacon on top of the first slice, followed by the chicken, layered in opposite directions
4. Add the second slice of toast Dijonnaise side down and top with another spreading of Dijonnaise before topping with the lettuce, tomatoes and egg
5. Add the final slice on top, Dijonnaise side down
6. Press down the edges of the sandwich to hold the ingredients together. Place four toothpicks to hold the sandwich together, one in each corner
7. Cut away the sides of the sandwich and serve with hot chips

The world’s most romantic city, Paris, has been named the most expensive city in the world to order a Club Sandwich, according to research released today by Hotels.com. The classic chicken, bacon, egg, lettuce and mayo sandwich, available in hotels the world over, has been used as a measure of affordability by the hotel expert. The Club Sandwich Index (CSI) will give holiday-makers an indication of the costs associated with their holiday destination, using one of the most common items on any hotel menu around the world as a barometer. 

The CSI average price has been calculated by taking the real prices paid by guests for a Club Sandwich in 30 hotels in the capital and major city of each country measured. In total Hotels.com surveyed the Club Sandwich prices in 750 hotels in the five, four and three star category across 26 countries.

In the French capital, the CSI showed prices ranged from an extraordinary £33.44 for a ‘Club’ in a five-star hotel to a more reasonable £13.72 in a two star establishment, with the Paris average cost of a Club coming in at £20.43. The second most expensive city was found to be the Swiss city Geneva, where the sandwich costs an average of £20.10, followed closely by £18.83 for a Club in Oslo. 

The UK took tenth position with an average Club coming in at just under twelve pounds (£11.55) and the cheapest sandwich available for just £6.50. In Spain, a favourite with British holidaymakers, a Club cost an average of £10 exactly, whilst in India, New Delhi (the cheapest city of those surveyed) one would set you back just £5.91 on average. 

Alison Couper from Hotels.com said; “When planning a trip away, many holidaymakers don’t always factor the everyday costs of items including food and drink into their decision making process. By providing people with a Club Sandwich Index it is the perfect way for holidaymakers to assess a destination’s real cost! Paris may well be the gastronomic capital of the world but at an average £20.43 per Club, travellers may be better off sticking to a Croque-Monsieur…”

The Hotels.com Club Sandwich Index (CSI):

Use this link to view chef, restaurateur and TV host John Torode demonstrating how to make the perfect Club Sandwich – http://youtu.be/S45AYGYIDL4 

Editors Notes: 

The Club Sandwich Index ‘average Club Sandwich price’ has been worked out as the average price of 30 Club Sandwiches as sold in 30 hotels in the Capital City of each country measured. The prices were taken from 10 Five Star, 10 Four Star, and 10 Three Star hotels from each city. In total 750 prices of a Club Sandwich were measured across 750 hotels, in 26 countries. Local currency was converted to GBP, exchange rate correct as of 25^th April 2012.

The relative strength of the global hotel sector can be seen as an indicator of a potential turnaround in the economic outlook with the average price of a room around the world rising 4% in 2011, according to the latest Hotels.com® Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®). The continuing strength in corporate travel, in particular, helped to push up demand and room rates, although prices were still generally lower than in 2005. 

The HPI looks at prices that people actually paid for their hotel room around the world. Last year, prices fell 2% in Asia year-on-year but rose in all other areas: 8% in the Pacific, 5% in North America, 4% in Latin America, 3% in the Caribbean and 2% in Europe and the Middle East.  The overall increase reflected a continuing trend of steady recovery after a 13% tumble in 2009. 

David Roche, President of Hotels.com: “The hotel sector is a good barometer for the global economy as a whole. Prices are up because demand for rooms is on the rise – a sign of higher levels of business and consumer spending. Local conditions, influenced last year by political uprisings, natural disasters and currency fluctuations, do have a major impact on prices but, overall,  the momentum is there and the market is growing.” 

Natural and political events leave their mark 

The Arab Spring protests and war in Libya hit prices across the Middle East and North Africa with rates falling in Egypt, Tunisia and Qatar. Travellers to Sharm El Sheikh, in particular, could find prices up to 30% lower than 2010. On the other hand, holidaymakers switching their holiday plans to southern European destinations in Italy and Spain saw substantial price hikes in some popular sunshine sunspots, such as Ibiza where prices rose up to 40%. 

Asia was the only region to experience a price fall in average rates, down 2% on average, partly due to devastating natural catastrophes in two popular destination markets. The Japanese earthquake in March 2011 led to falling demand and room rates while Thailand’s worst flooding in almost 60 years also triggered a cut in traveller numbers from July onwards and discounting by hoteliers. 

The floods in Brisbane and earthquake in New Zealand’s South Island, impacting Christchurch in particular, prompted price rises due to a lack of supply of rooms. 

Regional variations highlight local conditions 

In Europe, the ongoing Eurozone sovereign debt crisis and the fall in the value of the Euro saw dramatic falls in some struggling countries such as Greece as hoteliers adjusted their rates to attract demand in a depressed market.  However, prices rose in Ireland with visits from Queen Elizabeth and US President Barack Obama in May helping to raise the country’s global profile and appeal. 

Currency fluctuations drive price volatility 

Travellers from countries with traditionally strong currencies such as Switzerland, Australia and Sweden enjoyed significant price falls across the world but many inbound visitors were faced with more expensive accommodation. 

There was a rollercoaster ride for the Brazilian Real with Brazilians enjoying its relative strength in the spring of 2011 by taking more trips to the US. However, they stayed at home when the currency fell by more than 20% during the summer forcing up demand and prices in their own cities.

The depreciation of the Indian Rupee against most major currencies saw prices fall for many international travellers to cities such as New Delhi and Mumbai. 

David Roche said: “With hotel prices overall still below their 2005 level, now is a great time to go out and explore the world. The Hotels.com Hotel Price Index indicates where the prices are going up or down, who has the lowest prices overall, where the best value five-star hotels can be found, so that travel budgets can be stretched for a maximum return.” 

The Hotels.com HPI, which was launched in 2004, is based on bookings made on Hotels.com sites around the world and tracks the real prices paid per hotel room per night (rather than advertised rates) for about 142,000 properties in more than 19,800 locations in over 85 countries. The latest HPI looks at prices in 2011 compared to 2010. 

-Ends- 

For a full copy of the HPI report (live from 05:00 hrs BST 13 March 2012), graphics and video interview with Hotels.com President David Roche go to: 

http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53785-hotels 

Please click this link to see David Roche, President of Hotels.com, discussing the Hotel Price Index Jan-Dec 2011.

Download full UK and Ireland reports by clicking the below links:

HPI – Review of global hotel prices: Jan-Dec 2011 (UK version)

HPI – Review of global hotel prices: Jan-Dec 2011 (Ireland version)

Cash-strapped UK travellers faced hotel price rises last year in more than two thirds of their favourite destinations, according to a new global report released today. 

The latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI), the most comprehensive survey of room rates in the world, reveals increases in 69 of the 88 city or resort locations analysed across the world. 

The fluctuating value of the Pound and a growing demand for hotels, especially from international business executives, helped to push up the global average price by 4%. However, this masked some dramatic swings in the cost of accommodation caused by historic political events including the Arab Spring and natural disasters such as the Japanese earthquake. 

David Roche, President of Hotels.com, which scrutinised prices paid in 142,000 properties in over 85 countries, said: “Price volatility in 2011 meant UK travellers found it more expensive to stay in the majority of their favourite destinations abroad. 

“A variety of factors, including currency movements and a growth in corporate travel, pushed up prices at a time when many consumers were already struggling to pay their bills at home. 

“However, it must be stressed that room rates were still generally lower than they were in 2005 meaning hotels represented outstanding value for the hard-pressed holidaymaker looking to escape austerity Britain.” 

Last year, prices fell 2% in Asia year-on-year but rose in all other areas: 8% in the Pacific, 5% in North America, 4% in Latin America, 3% in the Caribbean and 2% in Europe and the Middle East. 

Demand rises in US cities

UK travellers found that hotel rooms in some of their favourite US destinations were more expensive with an average 3% rise across the States. 

There was less discounting amongst hoteliers in 2011 than in 2010 and business travellers drove up room demand and prices, with convention centres such as San Francisco and Las Vegas up 14% and 11% to £113 and £78 respectively. New York rose 4% to £173. 

Prices up Down Under 

The average hotel price in Australia rose 13% to £108 reflecting the country’s strong currency and robust economy. Brisbane, which was hit by extensive flooding in January 2011, saw a 26% rise to £110 as business travel recovered quickly. 

There was also a 12% rise in New Zealand to £73, fuelled by high demand around the Rugby World Cup in September-October. Earthquake-hit Christchurch saw a 41% rise to £81, the highest increase in the survey. 

Prices keep building in BRIC nations 

The strength of the booming BRIC economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China was also largely reflected in hotel rates as corporate demand increased along with domestic custom. 

Rio de Janeiro was up 13% to £156, Moscow rose 9% to £164, and Hong Kong climbed 18% to £119, boosted by strong business as well as consumer interest from the Chinese mainland. 

Natural and political events leave their mark 

Asia was the only region to experience a price fall in average rates, down 2%, partly due to devastating natural catastrophes. The Japanese earthquake in March 2011 saw price cuts in Hiroshima by 16% to £67 and in Kyoto by 11% to £91. Asian destinations offered the lowest rates, with Phnom Penh on just £40 a night. 

The Arab Spring protests and war in Libya hit prices across the Middle East and North Africa with average rates falling in Egypt by 22%, in Tunisia by 9%, in Lebanon, which borders Syria, by 21% and in Qatar by 27%. 

However, the Omani capital of Muscat was the most expensive city featured in the HPI at £219 with demand fuelled by luxury-seeking travellers from Europe, especially Germany.

Mixed picture in Europe 

London prices rose marginally by 1% to £115 but many traditional European city break destinations experienced steeper price rises caused by the Euro’s relatively strong performance against the Pound. Amsterdam increased 9% to £116 and Venice and Barcelona were up 8% to £137 and £104 respectively. 

The effects of the Greek debt problem triggered a 10% slump to £80 in Athens.  However, despite similar economic difficulties, Dublin prices rallied 7% to £73, helped in part by the May 2011 visits of US President Barack Obama and the Queen which raised the profile of the city. 

There were also significant price rises in the Baltic states with Increased demand from travellers searching for low cost destinations. Average room rates climbed in Lithuania by 14% to £55, in Estonia by 11% to £60 and in Latvia by 8% to £57. 

The negative perception of the Middle East had a knock-on effect with many travellers switching their holiday plans to safer southern European destinations, such as Ibiza, up 39% to £115.

-Ends- 

For a full copy of the HPI report (live from 05:00 hrs GMT 13 March 2012), graphics and video interview with Hotels.com President David Roche go to: 

http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53785-hotels 

• One million people have come into work the next day wearing the same clothes as the night of their Christmas party; 45-54 year olds almost twice as likely to have done so than the national average
• 750,000 people have spent the night in the office after the work Christmas party
• Over 1 in 10 Christmas party goers have opted to stay in a hotel the night of the Christmas party to cut costs
• 6% of Christmas party goers know someone who has booked a room with the intention of spending the night with a colleague
• Downloads of the Hotels.com mobile app have rocketed ahead of the Christmas party season, as hotel searches increase two fold between 7-10pm as spontaneous Brits look for hotels on the night of stay

London, 12 December 2011 — As over  a fifth of the nation’s workers prepare for their office Christmas party  this week (22%), Hotels.com  reveals that almost 1 in 6 (15%) people who have been to a work Christmas party haven’t made it home afterwards. The YouGov research, commissioned for the Hotels.com mobile app shows that over a million (1,070,518)people have turned up to work the next day wearing the same clothes as the day before – doing the work ‘walk of shame’ after the staff Christmas party.

Whilst easy to believe that younger team members will be the ones to party into the early hours, the study has revealed that Brits are in fact a nation of ‘Older-Indulgers’ with 45-54 year old Christmas party goers  almost twice as likely to have committed  the office walk of shame compared to the national average (5% vs. 3%).  Results also reveal that as many as 750,000 Brits have slept in the office on the night of their Christmas party, with 45-54 year old men over twice as likely to have done so compared to the overall national average (5% vs. 2%).

But grabbing a night’s sleep in the office is a last resort, as roughly a third said they would be likely to book a suitably priced hotel room if they could find one quickly and easily. Over 1 in 10 of those surveyed(11%) have opted to stay in a hotel room after a staff Christmas party as it is cheaper than travelling home late at night and 6% know a colleague who has booked a hotel room  intending  to spend the night with a co-worker

Downloads of the Hotels.com mobile app have surged to over three million ahead of the Christmas party season, bolstered by people making last minute searches for hotels on the night of stay.  Hotel searches on the app also increase two fold between 7-10pm with the majority of searches happening at night.  With a number of hotel rooms in cities like London and Glasgow  available for as little as £40* from Hotels.com, it comes as no surprise that many opt to get a good night’s rest than take a taxi home.

Alison Couper from Hotels.com commented: “In the current economic climate it’s no surprise that so many of us intend to let our hair down at the work Christmas party. To sleep off the excitement of the night before  and tackle the ‘morning after’ in the office, the Hotels.com mobile app is ideal for helping you find your nearest hotel quickly and easily – the perfect app for a speedy getaway when you need it most.”

For those who need to sleep off the night’s festivities and are unable to make it home, the Hotels.com app allows users to find accommodation quickly and securely on the go. GPS tracking means users can find hotels in their direct location, and the app provides access to over 20,000 last minute deals, a number of which are exclusive to the app. Users can also track, earn and redeem their Welcome Rewards points direct from the app. The Hotels.com Welcome Rewards is a simple and unique loyalty programme which offers customers one free night for every ten nights stayed in over 65,000 partnering hotels worldwide.

The Hotels.com app is available as a free download for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

With the rising costs of travel and limited budgets, it has become more important than ever to know how to secure great value travel deals. Based on a Hotels.com focus group, in partnership with the Association of Personal Assistants (APA), along with input from travel bloggers, the PA’s Insider Guide offers the best top tips and tricks of the trade to make this an indispensable tool, when booking a business trip or holiday.

Looking for a place to stay?

Making the most of reward schemes such as the unique and simple Welcome Rewards offered by Hotels.com, signing up to Twitter and learning how to blag effectively are just some of the moneysaving hints the guide has to offer

Top Transport Tips

The guide steers you towards some of the best transport deals, with tips such as dressing smartly to help ensure an upgrade, avoiding booking flexible fares and becoming a friend on Facebook, all helping to lighten the financial load when travelling

Local Knowledge

Choose a set lunch not supper, consult local papers, or sign up to one of a growing number of voucher discount sites, to ensure you are paying under the odds for your holiday entertainment.

View the full guide here: PA’s Insider Guide to getting a Good Deal

Despite French, German and Spanish being on the National Curriculum, only 13%, 8% and 6% of Brits respectively consider themselves able to speak the language. Of those in this category, 25% can ask a limited range of everyday questions, 21% can just say “hello” and “goodbye” and  a strange 2% claim that they can understand everything that is said to them, but are unable to say anything back.

The majority of Brits (61%) rarely or never try to speak a foreign language, with reasons for their lack of effort being put down to simply not being bothered (16%), being too embarrassed they will make a mistake (35%) or simply assuming that everyone can speak English (23%).

Surprisingly 47% of 18-24 year olds reported that they haven’t spoken the foreign language they learnt at school, since they left. Conversely, those aged over 55 were most likely to try and speak the country’s local language when on holiday, with 45% of respondents claiming to very often or always try.

Putting pints before their Ps & Qs, more people (43%) were able to translate “a beer please” in Spanish (“una cerveza por favor”) than were able to correctly translate “thank you” in Portuguese (“prego”) 29%.

Kate Hopcraft, from Hotels.com, said: “The results of our study seem to put British holiday makers to shame, with even languages typically learnt at school such as German, French and Spanish having incredibly low levels of comprehension. Brits often have a negative image abroad when it comes to languages and unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be anything we’ll be saying auf wiedersehen to anytime soon.”

Percentage of Brits who could correctly translate these common foreign phrases: 

With 56% of over 55’s feeling ‘less inhibited’ when on holiday and 60% agreeing with the adage “what happens on holiday stays on holiday”, it seems 55+ Brits are throwing caution to the wind and making the most of their twilight years.

Surprisingly, one in five (20%) of the over 55’s surveyed also admitted to having more than one ‘holiday romance’ on the same holiday, 15% were revealed to have lied about their relationship status while abroad and shockingly 28% said they have lied about their contact number / which hotel they’re staying at in order to avoid future contact with their ‘holiday romance’.

For those who did find romance abroad, it seems there is a lot to be said for the exotic reputation of foreigners, with 38 per cent of British travellers admitting they “tend to have holiday romances with people of a different nationality” 43% believing the person they met on holiday bore no resemblance to the type of person they usually go for.

For both old and young alike, these foreign flings were revealed to rarely lead to a lasting relationship with less than 6% of holiday romances surviving. The research by the hotel expert also revealed residents in Yorkshire and the Humber (40%) to be most likely to have fallen into the arms of a stranger on holiday. Those in East Anglia (45%) were most likely to have had more than one ‘holiday romance’ on the same holiday.

Kate Hopcraft, from Hotels.com, said: “Our research shows that romance is hot on the agenda for a number of UK holidaymakers, especially those over the age of 55 as both men and women look to live like Shirley Valentine whilst on holiday. Even though the majority of ‘holiday romances’ will end before the plane has even touched down on British soil, they’re exciting and often a wonderful addition to any holiday!”

With Kelly Rowland’s girls currently the ‘ones to watch’, the latest data from Hotels.com suggests that fans of the Destiny’s Child star are heading to the singer’s adopted home of Miami, which has experienced a 160% increase in searches.  Searches to Los Angeles have also risen by 52% as fans go in search of the LA lifestyle enjoyed by Gary Barlow’s boys and frequent LA dweller, Robbie Williams.

After taking a break from Ireland to visit Barcelona, Louis Walsh and the over 25s appear to have contributed to the small 23% rise in searches to the Spanish city where controversial contestants, Kitty Brucknell and Jonny Robinson fought to win a place in his final four.

Kate Hopcraft, from Hotels.com, said: “With X Factor mania sweeping the country, it’s interesting to see the influence of the Judges’ Houses on the British public who appear set on experiencing the glamour and tranquillity of the destinations themselves.  With the episodes showcasing the areas at their finest, it’s easy to see why viewers feel inspired to get up off their sofas and head in search of a taste of the highlife!”     

Growth in searches on Hotels.com in X Factor Judges’ Houses destinations comparing September 2010 with September 2011