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High Season Increased Hotel Revenues by €200M

14 November 2017

Hotel revenues between June and September reached 1.688 billion euros, up 14% compared to the previous year.

Revenues from the hotel sector rose 14% during the high season (June to September), equivalent to €200 million, reaching 1.688 billion euros. In an analysis of data from the INE, which released its figures for September, the most substantial increase in revenues between June and September was registered in the Azores (+25%), reaching 49 million. In absolute terms, the Algarve had the largest increase, rising by 69 million euros (to 660 million euros).

Lisbon experienced the second highest growth in both relative and absolute terms during the high season, reaching €438 million in revenues during the period under analysis.

Moreover, all regions saw increased growth, though Madeira has the slowest rise in revenues, growing a further 8%.

In all, between January and September, hotel establishments’ total income reached 2.723 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 16%.

The newly released data show that September was the third best month of the year, after August and July.

That month, according to INE, “the hotel industry registered 2.2 million guests and 6.3 million overnight stays,” corresponding to “variations of 7.9% and 5.1% (vs 5% and 3.7% in August, respectively). Overnight stays in the domestic market grew 1.4% “while those in overseas markets increased by 6.5%.”

The United Kingdom, Spain, France and Germany continued to be Portugal’s principal markets, but the highest growth rates in the first nine months were in Brazil (48%), USA (34%) and Poland (31%).

In a note sent to the editorial offices on Tuesday, the Secretary of State for Tourism affirms that the figures released by the INE “confirm the trend of sustained growth of all indicators (guests, overnights and income), but with a special focus on income.”

The 29th congress of the Portuguese Hotel Industry Association is being held this week in Coimbra, from Wednesday to Friday. Topics such as the new trends in accommodation (the INE data, for example, do not include local tourist accommodations) and the challenge of ” growth without losing Portugal’s identity” will be addressed.

Original Story: Público – Luís Villalobos

Translation: Richard Turner