During 2023, the group opened 25 new hotels and resorts, as its revenues grew 20% off the back of strong improvements in occupancy and room rates. Its portfolio now extends to more than 300 hotels across 30 country markets. “In 2023, Barceló Hotel Group experienced incredible success across our global portfolio,” reported Joes Canals, Barcelo’s director for Middle East, Asia, Mediterranean and North Africa. “Building on this, we have outlined a strategic expansion approach that will support growing our footprint across thriving global travel destinations.”
Building Turkish presence
In Turkey, Barcelo is about to open its fourth hotel in the country. The five star Barcelo in Cappadocia will join an existing presence in the country of Occidental hotels in Istanbul and Ankara, and a Barcelo brand destination in Istanbul.
Expansion in Africa will see the Occidental Hotel & Resorts brand launch in Morocco, with a 170 room four star property opening in Tangier. Two more properties, in Casablanca and Rabat, will undergo refurbishment to create five star destinations under the Hideaway and Barcelo brands. Also in line for upgrades are the Barcelo Fes Medina, Allegro Agadir in Morocco and Barcelo Palmeraie in Marrakech.
Adding island properties
On the island of Zanzibar, work is to start on a new Royal Hideaway Hotel & Resorts property, while in Cape Verde Barcelo will open its first city hotel in Santiago, while also bringing forward plans to open in Sal and Boa Vista before the end of the year.
Further island properties are being added to the portfolio in Madeira, where the company has just acquired two hotels in the island’s capital, Funchal. These will add to its presence in the popular destination where it opened Barcelo Funchal Oldtown in 2023. And on nearby Tenerife, the second half of the year will see the launch of Royal Hideaway Corales Villas.
In the Middle East, there will be a new opening in the second half of the year in Bahrain, with a 195 room hotel opening in the centre of Manama. And in the UAE, the Occidental Al Jaddaf will be refurbished and repositioned as a five star Barcelo property, relaunching in the last quarter of 2024.
Another area for expansion will be the Maldives, where a partnership with Sri Lankan group Browns Investments will add three, five star resorts in North Male Atoll, plus a new urban hotel in Male.
