The consultancy CBRE has carried out its “European Hotel Investor Intentions Survey”, analysing the preferences of investors who put their money into hotels. It found that in 2024 Spain became the most attractive destination in Europe for this kind of investment, pushing the United Kingdom out of first place.
In 2023 the Spanish hotel sector was the only one to show growth in investment volume compared with the previous year. It accounted for 36% of the entire Spanish property market, or €4.1 billion, a figure exceeded only in 2018.
CBRE forecasts that in 2024 the number of travellers and overnight stays in Spain will increase (by 1.6% and 1.5% respectively), with foreign tourists showing the strongest growth. Record figures in the tourism industry are fuelling interest in Spanish hotels, and this is also reflected at city level.
In 2024 Madrid became the second most favourable city for hotel investment, overtaking Paris and now second only to London. The Spanish capital is becoming ever more attractive to international capital, with investors from Latin America showing notable interest. Barcelona is sixth in the ranking, behind Rome and Amsterdam.
Across Europe as a whole, around 70% of investors plan to increase their investment in the hotel sector, which they see as an excellent hedge against inflation. Long-term forecasts of tourist numbers suggest that the expected level of supply will not be enough to meet demand.
