Barcelona’s hotel sector stayed ahead of Madrid from January to April, with revenue per available room, or RevPAR, rising to €130, according to Exceltur.
For Barcelona, the figures matter because they point to strong demand in a city where tourism, events and hospitality are closely tied to the local economy. They also suggest room prices are still being supported as summer bookings build.
Exceltur said Barcelona’s RevPAR was up 7.1% year on year, while the average room price reached €169.8. Madrid also grew, but more slowly, with RevPAR up 4.6% to €119.3 over the same period.
The group said Barcelona’s performance was helped by a 5.0% rise in tariffs and a 19.6% increase in domestic tourism demand. Foreign demand was broadly flat, up 0.9%. Exceltur also linked weaker international demand to access problems in Asian markets after the closure of Middle Eastern airports.
Exceltur pointed to several factors behind the city’s results, including the Gaudí centenary, the Papal visit, more technology and agri-food congresses, strong international tourism, music festivals, and Barcelona’s role as a start point for the Tour de France. The group said the city is regaining its position as a cultural and avant-garde hub.
Across Spain, hotel profitability rose 4% between January and April, according to Exceltur. The group said the country’s image as a safe destination, the rebound in demand from March onwards, and changes to tourist housing supply all played a part. It said the Digital Single Window for Rentals helped remove 31,500 places in the 25 main Spanish cities. For more local coverage, see our Community and Sport pages, and read the source material from Exceltur and La Vanguardia.
