Luxury Barcelona-based real estate company Lucas Fox has registered a doubling in demand for luxury hotel conversions and off-plan commercial projects in the first six months of 2013 as Barcelona`s international appeal continues to strengthen – especially with investors from Asia once new residency laws come into force at the end of the year.
Most interest is currently coming from British, American, Swiss and Middle Eastern investors as well as more recently from South American and African clients, particularly for commercial properties in the Eixample and Old Town districts of the city, also known as the ‘Golden Square’.
Lucas Fox Commercial Property Director Aimar Valls noted that a number of leading luxury hotel operators are in discussions with a view to managing or buying properties in Barcelona as they seek to expand their businesses.
He said: "Hotel investment in Barcelona has continued to be resilient despite Spain’s economic difficulties. We currently have around 20 potential investors for every building to convert. We are also expecting a new influx of investors from the Far East once the new Residency Law has been enacted this autumn. This demand will eventually push up prices so now is a golden opportunity to invest in Barcelona, especially in the luxury hotel market"
Despite the current global economic situation, Barcelona is expected to receive almost seven and a half million tourists in 2013 – the same as the record number received in 2012 – thanks, in large part, to increasing visitor numbers from North America, Britain and Russia and to the recently introduced daily direct flights from Barcelona to Dubai.
Over the past 10 years, there’s been strong growth in the hotel sector with a 75 percent increase in room supply in Barcelona. Last year alone, 14 new hotels opened in Barcelona, contributing to more than 65,000 rooms in the city. The increase in supply has not had a negative impact on room rates, however, which remain at an average of EUR109 per night, still a long way from the 2005 figure of EUR120 per night.
According to a recent report by accountancy firm Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), Barcelona is on track to be the fourth city in Europe in terms of hotel occupancy in 2013 and predicts that revenue per room will also increase.
Valls also predicts a bright future for Barcelona`s luxury hotel market in the medium to long-term, and he expects the city to further consolidate its position as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations within the events and conventions sector as well as in the cruise market.
"Barcelona is now a worldwide brand. It has always been a city with a significant international presence but it was the 1992 Olympics Games that placed it on the map, gave it an international profile and helped to make it one of the highly rated cities in the world. Not only this, its football team, beaches, climate, cosmopolitan atmosphere have all contributed to the ‘boom’ in the Barcelona brand in the last few years, and I believe this is just the beginning,” he added.
Andrew Batt, International Group Editor of PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact him about this or other stories email andrew@propertyguru.com.sg
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