Hotel rates high for World Cup

Hotel rooms are expected to cost almost 50 percent more in Rio de Janeiro during the upcoming World Cup soccer tournament than when the city will host the 2016 Olympics, in part because organizer FIFA’s official accommodations agency hasn’t set maximum room rates like those promised in Rio’s winning bid for the Olympic Games. Swiss company MATCH Services signed contracts with the vast majority of hotels in Rio and other cities that will host matches, and offers rooms via FIFA’s website at high rates that have prompted an ongoing investigation by the Brazilian govern- ment into possible cartel-like practices. – AP