Last October, the average income per available room fell by 12.5% ??in the hotels of Barcelona. Making lose to the establishments of the city part of their income and locating it as a destination of tourism ‘low cost’.
The hotel establishments in Barcelona are on sale. That is the main conclusion reached by the Magma HC and STR consultants in the last Barometer of the Hotel sector in Spain.
The document warns of a reduction in income per available room (RevPar) of 12.5% ??year-to-year in October. Falling to 117 euros per night.
A data extracted from a sample of some 200 hotels spread across Catalonia. Of these, 153 are from Barcelona.
One of the great tourist capitals of Europe. Immersed in a process of falling prices to sustain high levels of employment.
The result: the prices of Barcelona hotels for this Christmas fall to 84 euros per night. While other destinations such as Madrid, Malaga, Granada or Benidorm exceed 100 euros.
Fall in hotel revenues since October
If between January and September, Barcelona broke records of tourist employment (+ 3.3%), average daily price (+ 11.5%) and average income per available room (+ 15.1%); The market suffered a significant drop in the last quarter of the year.
Few imagined that the attack last August would hardly mean a tourist fall for Barcelona. However, the hardest thing was to come. With the fall of the occupation in October, the month of the referendum, and the consequences in the following weeks.
“Barcelona loses the accumulated strength”, recalls Javier Serrano (STR). And, after the results of October, the data of November again reflect a new fall.
Of the 10.2% in the employment of the hotels of Barcelona, ??of 2.1% in the average daily price and of 12.1% in the income for available room. Opening an uncertain panorama for the next few weeks that only political stability can solve.
A less touristy autumn than usual
If the month of October was not especially good for most hotels, even less was for provinces such as Barcelona or Girona. Whose hotel occupancy fell by 4.5 and 12.4%, respectively. According to the Hotel Situation Report of the INE.
The impact of the political crisis has especially affected the establishments of high standing. In fact, only the hotels in Sants-Montjuïc have improved their indicators slightly.
While the hotels in the city center, where luxury firms are located, are the ones that have seen their incomes fall the most in October. 17.8% less in RevPar. Followed by the establishments of the Catalan coast, which lose 16.6%.
This is how the hotels in Barcelona with the lowest category have suffered least from the impact of the political situation. In front of the rest of establishments.
Low cost Christmas in the hotels of Barcelona
If the latest HotelsCombined study with the most popular destinations for Christmas highlights cities such as Barcelona, ??Madrid or Seville, not all cities stand out for the reasons.
In fact, Barcelona is ranked as the cheapest destination among the ten most demanded by Spanish travelers. Offering an average cost of 84.40 euros per night. Against € 100.20 in Madrid, € 102, € 70 in Malaga, € 115.40 in Granada or € 134.70 in Benidorm.
Only Córdoba is placed below the city, with 76.70 euros per night. While cities such as London, Paris, Rome or New York have an average price per booking of 138 euros.
Where is the luxury hotel in one of the most sought after tourist destinations on the Internet?
Traditional airlines as victims of cheap tourism
One of the most used words during 2017 has been Turismofobia. A concept that will end up accepting the RAE if it does not end with one of the main industries in Spain.
The commitment to low-cost tourism, with the massive arrival of travelers, can touch the luxury hotel sector in cities like Barcelona.
A quality segment that has had its first victims in traditional airlines, such as Aerolineas Argentinas, Air France or Icelanair. Regular airlines at the Barcelona airport that have ended up leaving El Prat due to the strong low-cost competition.
And it is that tourism should not only be encouraged but also pampering it without complexes. Making it a sustainable and modern industry with great economic impact. Also about the real estate market.
