European Hotel Sector Posts Mixed Results in 2012

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According to STR Global, the European hotel industry posted mixed results in year-over-year metrics when reported in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds for 2012.

Year-over-year, 2012 figures for Europe (U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds):




"European hotels during December reported the highest increase in occupancy for any month in 2012", said Elizabeth Randall Winkle, managing director of STR Global. "The 2.8-percent occupancy increase, compared with December 2011, is a nice reprieve from the recent monthly performances, which moved compared with the prior year between the -1.0 percent and +1.0 percent. 2012 was the year for ADR increases, ending with 4.7-percent increase to EUR104.24.

"Looking at the 38 European markets that we forecast", she continued, "we are currently predicting continued ADR growth during 2013 in 26 markets, where as the forecast sees 19 markets with declining occupancy performances"...

Highlights from key market performers for 2012 include (year-over-year comparisons, all currency in euros):

• Reykjavik, Iceland, rose 12.7 percent in occupancy to 70.3 percent, reporting the largest increase in that metric, followed by Bratislava, Slovakia, with a 10.4-percent occupancy increase to 51.4 percent.

• Athens, Greece, fell 10.5 percent in occupancy to 53.1 percent, reporting the largest decrease in that metric.

• Four markets achieved ADR increases of 10 percent or more: London, United Kingdom (+12.0 percent to EUR171.88); Tallinn, Estonia (+11.5 percent to EUR65.57); Warsaw, Poland (+10.5 percent to EUR82.98); and Reykjavik (+10.0 percent to EUR90.39).

• Bratislava posted the only double-digit ADR decrease, falling 10.0 percent to EUR62.25.

• Five markets experienced double-digit RevPAR growth in 2012: Reykjavik (+24.0 percent to EUR63.55); Dublin, Ireland (+14.1 percent to EUR65.87); Moscow, Russia (+11.9 percent to EUR98.52); Tallinn (+10.6 percent to EUR42.03); and Warsaw (+10.5 percent to EUR56.85).

• Athens fell 18.7 percent in RevPAR to EUR50.08, posting the largest decrease in that metric.

Performances of key countries in 2012 (all monetary units in local currency):



In December 2012, the region increased 2.8 percent in occupancy to 55.0 percent, rose 1.3 percent in ADR to EUR96.95 and was up 4.1 percent in RevPAR to EUR53.33.