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Idealista: Hotel Inv’t to Reach Record Figure of €3.2bn in 2017

26 December 2017 – Idealista

The year-end forecasts for hotel investment are marking record highs, exceeding the €3.2 billion threshold. This represents an increase of 45% with respect to 2016 and of 25% with respect to 2015, the record year to date when investment amounted to €2.55 billion. The large operations completed during the year include the 14 assets (HI Partners) that Sabadell sold to Blackstone for €630 million and the purchase of the iconic Edificio España building (pictured below) in Madrid by the hotel chain Riu for €380 million.

The hotel segment has risen to prominence in 2017 in terms of real estate investment, accounting for 30% of the total market share, exceeded only by retail. During the first six months of the year, €1.655 billion was invested in hotel purchases.

Madrid and Barcelona are the two cities that recorded the majority of the real estate operations: the Spanish capital accounted for 19% of total investment and the Catalan capital 12%. Nevertheless, markets such as Valencia, Sevilla and Bilbao also started to spark interest amongst investors. Meanwhile, in terms of holiday markets, the Canary Islands, Andalucía and the Balearic Islands led the investment ranking, accounting for 23%, 13% and 9%, of the total investment, respectively.

Between January and November 2017, 94 operations were closed, with 109 hotels changing hands. The most significant operation was completed by Blackstone, with its purchase of the HI Partners portfolio from Sabadell (…).

Another important deal was closed in June with the sale of a portfolio of 3- and 4-star Meliá Hotels, located in Ibiza, Lanzarote, the Balearic Islands and Torremolinos to London & Regional for €230 million.

In 2018, the investment figures in the hotel sector could soar once again if Barceló’s plan goes ahead to take over the NH Hotel Group, worth €2.48 billion. That deal would create a new market leader with more than 600 hotels and 109,000 rooms.

Original story: Idealista 

Translation: Carmel Drake