Time-base pricing Time-based pricing is the standard method of pricing in the tourist industry. Higher prices are charged during the peak season, or during special-event periods. In the off-season, hotels may charge only the operating costs of the establishment, whereas investments and any profit are gained during the high season. (This is the basic principle of the long run marginal cost (LRMC) pricing, see also Long run). Time based pricing is occasionally used by transportation service providers, whereby higher prices are charged during rush-hours, or, alternatively, some type of reduced-rate tickets are invalid at that time.