The holding of major fairs, such as the ISE a few days ago, has a direct impact on the occupancy of top category tourist apartments. Concentrated in the Eixample, Rambla Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia and emblematic areas of Ciutat Vella, this type of premium offer accounts for approximately 3% of tourist apartments in Barcelona, ??according to data from the association that brings them together, Apartur . The proportion has increased over the past three years.
“More and more customers are looking for this type of accommodation because it provides a space and privacy that hotels cannot offer”, says Enrique Alcántara, president of Apartur. The luxury apartments occupy entire floors in the Eixample or Ciutat Vella, with four or more rooms. “The majority of customers are usually families who come from the United States, grandparents, with children and grandchildren, or groups of workers who attend large fairs or congresses,” explains Darney, an employee of a company that manages two luxury apartments in the Eixample, one on Carrer Aribau and another on Diagonal, on the corner with Enric Granados, both with six bedrooms and large living rooms with kitchen. They market them through two online platforms that allow direct contact with customers, “and more and more repeat customers, especially those who come to Barcelona for work meetings”. They also host actors, artists, singers or footballers, “who are looking for a certain privacy”, he adds.
The minimum stay in these apartments is four nights and occupancy at the end of the year exceeds 80%. “We only have a few weeks left in November and the beginning of January, the rest are practically full and reservations are made months in advance,” he says. The average occupancy ranges between six and eight people and the price is usually around one thousand euros a night, although it has risen to 2,100 euros during some large congresses. In fact, ISE marks the beginning of the season, which remains close to full capacity during Mobile World Congress (which starts on February 26) and also during Seafood (at the end of April).
In the absence of a regulated classification that gives apartments an official category, Apartur estimates that 90% of active tourist flats – there are 9,411 registered in Barcelona, ??but the sector estimates that there are some 6,300 assets – split equally between superior and standard accommodation. Above that 4% high-end and below that a similar proportion lower-end. “This without counting the illegal apartments, which are always in the worst category”, adds Alcántara.
After the pandemic, the trend of renovating and modernizing tourist apartments was consolidated to reposition them and respond to a public that demands more quality and is willing to pay more. The new regulation approved by the Government and which opens the door for municipalities to limit and eliminate the offer of tourist apartments, which requires them to also have a planning permit, “will break this trend, since who will invest in improving apartments if they do not know will he be able to obtain the license?” Alcántara asks.
While the ISE was being held, the sector also sent a letter to the 15,000 congressmen who were estimated to be staying in luxury or high-luxury tourist apartments, warning them of the effects that the new regulation will have. “The apartments represent 40% of the hotel rooms in Barcelona, ??it will only be possible for the latter to rise in price”, warns Alcántara.
