London officials meet with agency in price dispute

London Olympic organizers were meeting Friday with the travel agency accused of selling official packages to the 2012 Games at overpriced rates.

London Mayor Boris Johnson is among those who have criticized pricing of the accommodations, but London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton and the organization representing Britain's hotel industry said that London's hotels are offering rooms for Olympic visitors at below market rate.

However, official sponsor Thomas Cook is selling packages costing several times the separate value of tickets and accommodation.

''London hoteliers have no control over the prices that agents are charging,'' British Hospitality Association chief executive Ufi Ibrahim said. ''There is no question that hotels are profiteering; indeed the opposite.

''London hotels have agreed to let these rooms at below the current market rate in order to support the Games. Accusations that they are profiteering are totally unfounded.''

Ibrahim said hotels are charging roughly the average of their room rates between 2007 and 2010.

Thomas Cook said it would not comment upon ongoing commercial discussions.