Barcelona hotels forecast record revenues for 2024

Hotels in Barcelona are expecting record revenues in 2024, the Hotel Guild of Barcelona said on Wednesday.

Although the number of overnight stays has fallen, the average price per room has risen to an all-time high. 

So far this year, hotel occupancy has been 82%, slightly lower than last year and almost two points lower than before the pandemic.  

However, the average room rate is now €195, an increase of 16% compared to the same period last year. This means that a one-night stay at a hotel is €45 more expensive than it was in 2019. 

The guild's president, Jordi Clos, has attributed this to an increase in "quality" tourists linked to the business, sports and cultural sectors.

"These types of events strengthen the power of the Barcelona brand, which has a very strong international image," he said.

However, Clos noted that the America's Cup, currently taking place in Barcelona, has not resulted in an "overly significant" volume of hotel bookings, but has had a "positive" impact on positioning Barcelona as a destination.  

Commenting on Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni's announcement to eliminate all tourist apartments by 2028, Clos said that the capacity to accommodate all tourists coming for major events is not at risk.  

The guild's president explained that the market segment for major events tends to stay in hotels and that Mobile World Congress, the city's most important event, requires 21,000 rooms, while Barcelona's hotels have a total of 40,000 rooms. 

The guild president expressed concern about the crime situation in Barcelona and called for an "increased police presence" to prevent thefts.

However, Clos acknowledged that "this is not just a Barcelona problem, it is a national problem" and insisted that so far "tourists are not deterred from visiting because of security concerns".

Another issue of concern for hotels, Clos said, is the recent anti-tourism protests, which gained worldwide attention when demonstrators targeted tourists with water guns. 

"This is not positive or acceptable. I understand protests, but violent actions are damaging, especially when amplified by the international press," he said.

Clos emphasized that the contribution of hotels in terms of taxes is "very significant," noting that few destinations have a tourist tax like Barcelona's, which was recently increased to €4 per night.