Report

Barcelona: Hospitality Market Update

Barcelona, a city renowned for its quality of life, creativity, cosmopolitanism, and innovation, is highly attractive for living, working, and visiting.

In Catalonia in 2019, there were 20,737,029 travellers and 58,222,342 overnight stays, of which 8,517,891 travellers and 21,371,417 overnight stays were in Barcelona city – 41% of the tourists visiting Catalonia are going to Barcelona city.

Tourism Overview
Barcelona is a top global destination, ranking 9th worldwide and 7th in Europe according to TripAdvisor. In 2019, Catalonia welcomed nearly 21 million travellers with 58 million overnight stays, with Barcelona accounting for 41% of these figures. International tourists comprised 83% of visitors, reflecting the city’s strong global appeal.

Accommodation Market
Barcelona offers a diverse range of accommodations, including hotels, apartments, pensions, youth hostels, student residences, and tourist apartments. As of 2019, the city had 442 hotels, 290 guesthouses, and 12 tourist apartments among other lodging options. Airbnb alone marketed around 21,000 units in Barcelona. The average hotel occupancy rate in 2019 was 80%, with an ADR of €135.25 and a RevPAR of €106.49.

Visitor Profile
The average age of tourists ranges broadly, with the largest group aged 25-34 (34%), followed by 35-44 (19.2%) and 18-24 (18.3%). Tourists visiting Barcelona frequently revisit, with 33.2% having visited the city three or more times. The majority arrive by plane (84.4%), with a significant portion booking accommodations directly online (52%).

Events and Conferences
Barcelona is a premier destination for international congresses, ranking 4th worldwide in terms of the number of events hosted. Key events include the Mobile World Congress, Smart City Expo, and ITMA. In 2019, MICE tourism generated €1.9 billion for the city, significantly boosting hotel occupancy.

COVID-19 Impact
The pandemic has severely impacted Barcelona’s tourism sector. Forecasts indicate a €4.5 billion loss for the city in 2020, with a 47.6% drop in activity during the summer months. The economic impact is expected to reduce Catalonia’s GDP by 7.6% in 2020, with a partial recovery anticipated in 2021.

Recovery Measures
To aid recovery, the Catalan government has introduced various grants and financial aid packages, including:

€8.5 million in subsidies for the tourism sector.

€5 million for self-employed and micro-enterprises.

Postponement of the tourist tax until January 2021.

An employment shock plan worth €59 million.

Barcelona City Council has allocated nearly €3 million from the tourist tax to support the economy and tourism sector, focusing on sustainability and local consumption.

Future Outlook
Post-pandemic recovery will hinge on increased air traffic and the resumption of international tourism. The event industry could play a crucial role in reviving the sector, given its significant economic impact. The city’s focus on “Bleisure” (business and leisure travel) and sustainable tourism will be key to attracting visitors and boosting expenditure.