Regional overview: Close to 1,600 new hotels to hit the European market soon [Infographic]

by | 27 Jan 2020 | Hotel Openings, Projects

Europe’s hotel market shows no sign of slowing with almost 1,600 openings on the horizon. (Photo: Pexels)

With over 272,000 rooms due to be added to Europe’s hotel market in the coming years, the continent is adapting to growing numbers of inbound travellers.

1,588 new hotels are planned in Europe in the coming years and will add 272,270 rooms to the market.

This wave of openings shows that Europe’s hotel market is adapting to the growing numbers of inbound and domestic travellers.

We find out more about where the most openings are happening and which ones to keep an eye out for.

Busy years are ahead in Europe’s hotel market

In 2020 alone 536 new properties are slated to open and add 86,433 rooms to the market. 2021 will bring 350 new hotels with 59,362 rooms. 174 properties with 32,532 rooms are confirmed for 2022 and 2023 already has 83 launches in the pipeline, with more likely to be added soon. 2024 and onwards will see 445 additional hotels open their doors.

Of these hotels, the vast majority is in the 4-star sector which will see 1,117 hotels with 194,519 rooms launch. Only around one third of the planned properties are set to become 5-star properties.

Europe’s top national hotel markets

The UK and Germany are the undisputed leaders in the European hotel market in terms of new openings. With 360 and 339 launches respectively, they lead the top 5 ahead of France, Spain and Italy which have 96, 77, and 69 openings respectively.

Russia is in 6th place with 65 new hotels followed by Switzerland, with 62 and Poland and Austria who tied in 8th place with 55 openings each and 10,909 and 7,603 rooms respectively. This means that the properties in Poland will on average be significantly larger than those in Austria. Ireland closes out the top 10 with 52 openings and 7,452 new rooms.

Europe’s fastest-growing urban hotel markets

With the UK topping Europe’s list of fastest-growing national hotel markets, it’s unsurprising that London is the city with the most upcoming openings in Europe. Despite Brexit, 90 new projects with 16,357 rooms are confirmed and underway.

Dublin follows in a distant second place with 32 openings and 4,566 rooms while Paris comes in a close third place with 30 launches and 4,483 rooms.

Manchester, Hamburg and Glasgow all have similar prospects with 23, 22 and 20 new hotels respectively. Frankfurt, Vienna and Liverpool will each see 19 properties open, with Frankfurt being home to the largest properties and the highest number of new rooms of these three cities.

Budapest, a rapidly developing tourist hotspot, closes out the top 10 with 16 openings bringing 2,616 rooms.

Top hotel brands expanding in Europe

It won’t come as a big surprise that most of Europe’s fastest-growing brands belong to the world’s largest international hotel chains.

Hilton, for example, has four brands in the top 10 including Hampton by Hilton with 49 projects, Hilton Garden Inn with 26, DoubleTree by Hilton with 19 and Hilton Hotels & Resorts with 15. This makes Hilton the undisputed winner in Europe.

While Courtyard by Marriott is overall in third place in terms of Europe-wide openings with 22 launches, it’s Marriott’s only brand to make it into the top 10. Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts will also add 22 hotels to its portfolio and comes in fourth place followed by Scandic Hotels with 19 new properties planned.

Two IHG brands have made it into the top 10, namely Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts with a pipeline of 19 properties and Hotel Indigo with 17 upcoming launches. Finally, InterCityHotel makes for another independent brand on the list with 17 openings.

Noteworthy projects in Europe

Europe’s largest new hotel project is the 5000-room Dubrovnik Pearl Hotels development in Dubrovnik, Croatia. 7 hotels and resorts will be part of this development which will also include a mega yacht marina with 400 berths, a 27-hole golf club, art galleries, museums, restaurants and a seaside promenade.

In Q3 2020, the elegant Bulgari Hotel Paris will welcome guests on the Avenue Georges V, one of Paris’ most luxurious boulevards which is part of the renowned “Triangle d’Or”. The hotel will offer mostly suites, a spa complete with a 25-metre pool, a restaurant as well as a charming courtyard garden.

In Istanbul, Turkey, the Aatakoy Jumeriah will open in Q4 2020 and welcome business guests and residents to an array of luxurious rooms and apartments. The development also includes a conference hall, a VIP Club, a sports complex with a large spa and a Turkish hammam as well as an indoor-outdoor swimming pool, a shopping arcade and a seafront dining area.

According to our TOPHOTELCONSTRUCTION online database, these are the top 10 Countries in Europe: