The first great litmus test of the tourist season in Spain is on the way to a passing grade. Some of the main hotel chains highlight their optimism and wait for last-minute reservations to close to full in various destinations.
Barcelo. With 85 hotels in Spain, the Barceló company faces Easter with “very positive prospects thanks to the increase in advance sales, especially in destinations such as the Canary Islands,” they say. Other destinations such as AndalucÃa or Levante are more dependent on last-minute sales “so we will have to wait for the weather forecasts for those days. In general terms, we expect an average occupancy ten points above 2022â€. As of today, they calculate an average increase of 12% in daily rates, which has generated 50% more income, with a special impact on the Canary Islands.
Hotusa. The group, which manages 168 hotels in Spain, claims to register “good sales data and forecasts are positive, improving the figures for 2022 and 2019, both in rates, which maintain the upward trend of recent months, and in occupancy. The desire to travel is maintained, so our expectation is to be able to fill up in most tourist destinationsâ€. The rates are growing especially in the high segment, they add from Hotusa. “Despite the economic uncertainties, we have not yet observed a retraction in consumption, although we believe that we must be prudent,” they add.
Riu. “We are registering good sales data in all the hotels in Spain. We currently have 6% more reservations than on the equivalent dates of the previous course; however, there is still a margin of sale in practically all destinations in Spainâ€, they comment from the hotel chain. As for the most popular destinations in Spain, Riu highlights Playa de Palma, Chiclana, Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
Hesperia. With 90% occupancy in all of its hotels, the chain has seen better performance in this first quarter of the year in Barcelona and Andalusia. “We can talk about a sustained recovery in recent months, which allows us to affirm that we have already left the effects of the pandemic behind,” they add.
Sercotel. In his case, the destinations in the north of the Peninsula are those that are reserved the most in advance, “especially Bilbao, San Sebastián and Logroño, with occupations already above 80%.” “In Catalonia and Levante, Barcelona capital and Sitges stand out, classic leisure destinations for international clients, with 90% occupancy, although in the latter destination we depend on the weather forecast,” they maintain. In Valencia they expect to close with a full house and with prices between 15% and 20% above 2019 and 2022 respectively.
Palladium. The chain highlights that Spaniards usually bet on these dates for trips to national destinations, both inland and on the coast. “The Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands are two highly desired destinations,” they explain. The British, German or French tourist, for his part, chooses the Spanish coast and islands like Tenerife or Ibiza. “In addition, as it is a holiday period of several days, destinations such as Mexico and Punta Cana, in which we have a presence, also experience an increase in terms of occupancy with visitors from European markets,” the hotel group highlights.
