A biannual survey by Hogg Robinson Group has revealed that Moscow’s hotel room rates are by far the highest of any of the cities that they monitor. During the first 6 months of the year the average price of a room in Moscow was £258. In second place came Lagos (£217), which continues to attract business travellers involved in the Nigerian oil industry. Closer to home rates in London rose by 5%, despite some weakness before the Olympic Games. As for the rate of increase in room rates (in local currency terms), Latin American countries secured some hefty rises. In Brazil rates rose by 23% in Sao Paulo and by 15% in Rio de Janeiro. However, the number 1 spot went to Mexico with a whopping 30% increase. At the other end of the scale Barcelona saw falls of 22%.