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Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, April 7-10, 2012 London Olympics will cost Prices at the pump a hurdle way to the airport, but now that's back up to $20." In March, gas prices started reaching record highs for that time of year, compared to normal prices, which usually start increasing during the summer months when more families are on the road and demand is higher. And according to a press release from GasBuddy.com, a popular gas price tracking website, prices are not about to go back down, with anticipated prices in the summer range somewhere between $3.95 and $4.35 per gallon. "Folks are impacted by price increases in different ways," said AAA Utah spokesperson Matt Skryja, who helps track gas price information. "That goes for whether you are the average driver or a business person … you are going to make different considerations as the Motorization Designer Draperies CALL NOW TO EXPERIENCE THE PARK CITY BLIND & DESIGN DIFFERENCE. LET OUR WINDOW COVERING PROFESSIONALS SHOW YOU HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM THE SUN. www.parkcityblind.com prices fluctuate. As to the tipping point, it varies." Like Manwaring choosing to buy gas in Salt Lake City or Heber, where gas can be 10 cents cheaper per gallon than in town, other businesses are also weighing decisions such as whether to raise prices or cut back salaries. Alan Powell of Peak Transportation said rising gas prices always affect business, but in some ways the lower prices in January scaled back any losses. "Of course gas prices affect us," he said. "About 20 percent of our fare prices goes straight back to gas, from all that driving up and down the mountains. And people want four wheel drive SUVs to fit their family of four in one car on the way to their ski vacation." Although brief, because gas prices were at a low point during a busier part of the year when Sundance Film Festival crowds were in town, Powell saved enough money in January to break even with last year. "In some respects, we made a little extra," Powell said, "all right during one of our busiest times of the year." By February, those numbers that were once helpful, bottoming at $2.92, started climbing back into a more familiar territory well above the $3 per gal- Park City's oldest most consistent collision center Est. 1978. lon mark. Now the state average is stabilizing at $3.72 per gallon. When it comes to raising prices, Powell is careful with which course of action he takes. "Is it something that's fair to pass on to the customer," he added. "The customer service and tourism industry always has to ask that question. You want to avoid nickel and diming your customer with fees here and there." Keeping prices low can be a challenge because of how many transportation companies operate in Park City. Based on numbers provided by City Hall, Park City has more than 80 registered transportation companies. When it comes to competing with lower prices from businesses in the first year of operation, pricing can be a challenge, Manwaring said. "As far as the airport transportation, I would say it is completely saturated," Manwaring said. "It is so competitive. If people call you and kind of hustle you for a deal, you have to. There are so many companies out there who will do it for so cheap." Powell agreed. "You see a lot of transportation companies come and go," he said. "It may keep you busy going to a lower rate, but it's not going to make you successful." CKM Collision at Quinn's Junction "Physics Behind Collision Repair" Custom Shades And your entire window covering needs 1612 Ute Blvd., Kimball Junction 800.264.9039 435.649.9665 parkcityblind@aol.com I M AG E R E B O R N F O U N D AT I O N ' s BOWLING LIFE FOR Continued From A-5 P ROTECT YOUR HOME FROM THE SUN & STILL BE beautiful T GN NEE EAM UP DE s TO D! DA Y LONDON (AP) - Coming for the Olympics with money to spend? Then there's still time to ensure you can take tea at The Ritz, drink at the Savoy's American bar, or sleep in an Art Deco room at Claridge's. Most of London's most exclusive hotels have been booked for the Olympics, snapped up by Olympic officials or companies block-booking rooms for favored customers, but there are still amazing places to stay. That is, if you can afford the bill. "You can still get some rooms in certain periods of the games, although we expect to be fully booked soon," said Simon Negger, spokesman for the Maybourne Hotel Group that owns three of London's most iconic hotels: Claridge's, The Connaught and The Berkeley. London's hotels are walking on their own balance beam range of between $1,200 and $5,200. The Olympic organizers are partly responsible for the fact that there are still hotel rooms free. Hotels began getting calls from customers wanting to book rooms for the London games years ago, but organizers had asked hotels to hand over 40,000 rooms to house Olympic dignitaries. In January, they handed 8,000 rooms back for hotels to sell to the general public. And it may well hand more rooms back in the next few weeks. "The hotel industry was expecting to get some rooms back early this year so its not a huge surprise, but it does mean rooms are available later in the day than you may expect," said Miles Quest, spokesman for the British Hospitality Association. "I am still expecting central London to be 100 percent full by the time of the games." The London hotel industry's promise, that it could provide several thousand hotel rooms at a variety of prices, was a crucial part of London's Olympic bid. The Olympic committee liked the fact that the city already had a wide range of hotels and was willing to build even more. sI Hotels set to make money as room prices soar this Olympic year, trying to maximize revenues during the July 27-Aug. 12 event while not alienating loyal customers and still fulfilling obligations to Olympic organizers, who asked all hotels to hand over some rooms to house Olympic officials, athletes and delegates during the London Games. Some have not increased rates beyond normal high summer season prices -- which in central London can often hit several hundred dollars a night -- but have imposed minimum stays and stricter cancellation policies. Claridge's still has rooms available -- from around 600 British pounds, about $955, for a double room to over 1,000 pounds, or $1,600, for a suite -but wants customers to book a minimum of five nights over the Olympic period. The Savoy, which was refurbished in time for the Olympics, can put you up for one night but only if you are prepared to pay at least $4,400 for one of its suites on the banks of the Thames River. At The Ritz, where you can stay for just one night if you want to, at rooms costing from 755 pounds to 3,255 pounds, a A-7 The Park Record A ChARity FundRAiSeR to SuPPoRt heAling R e t R e At S F o R w oMen with BReASt CAnCeR Jupiter Bowl at Redstone Center Park City Sunday, May 20th, 2012 5 to 8 P.M. Entry Fee • $400 per 4 person team Guests Invited • $25 per person Receive 5% off auto repairs exp. 5/1/12 Silent AuCtion | CASh BAR | Food | gAMeS | PRizeS to R e g i S t e R : w w w. i M A g e R e B o R n F o u n d At i o n . o R g Jon Brady Office Manager Chad Knaras 3844 North Old Highway 40 Park City | Utah | 84098 Owner 435.649.9802 ckmcollision.com "Living Beyond Breast Cancer" TOP 10 THINGS TO DO WHEN BUYING OR SELLING REAL ESTATE : 1. Call Mike Mazzone & Sean Railton They'll take care of the other nine. We have buyers and need listings in all areas and price ranges. Incentives available. 435-649-1991 mike@parkcityrealtygroup.com sean@parkcityrealtygroup.com www.ownparkcity.com 3 WINES FOR $3 DAILY $ 6 PLATES BEFORE 6PM 9 GREAT APPETIZERS $9 Open Daily from 2pm to 1am • Reservations 435-647-0040 • On Park Avenue next to Town Lift • www.butcherschophouse.com |