While the last couple years haven’t exactly been wonderful for people in the hotel business, many travelers have been able to score cut-rate rooms as hotel operators sought to fill rooms. But now, says USA Today, it’s looking like rates are back on the rise again.

The report cites a handful of examples, like the news that Marriott recently increased room rates for the first time in two years and Travelocity’s claim that rates for rooms in its 20 biggest markets this season are up 3.5% over where they were a year ago. In fact, the cost of hotel rooms in NYC are up 12% from fall 2009, says Travelocity.

Marriott’s president tells the newspaper that the better times appear to be here to stay:

Many seem to wonder if the economic recovery has any strength and if there is a risk of a double dip… There’s nothing in our business that indicates this. Business and leisure travel are strong.

Hotel rates rise as more people travel [USA Today]

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