Poland’s hotel investment market may still be in its infancy, but there are many reasons why investors are convinced of the country’s potential. Factors include the improvement of hotel indicators, more international hotel chains, the enhancement of the country’s meetings and conference industry, improving road and rail infrastructure, as well as favourable property prices in comparison to key European markets, such as London, Paris or Munich. In fact, all kinds of hotel properties from the budget to luxury segments are in demand. Investors plan to increase hotel property value by actively engaging in its management. For institutional buyers a brand seems to be a definite must.
The hotel market in Poland is developing dynamically with the number of categorised hotels in Poland exceeding 2700. This year IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) signed a franchise agreement to open the first Staybridge Suites in Poland and Marriott International opened the Sopot Marriott Resort & Spa, one of the largest spa resorts in Poland. “The dynamics of the development of the hotel base is impressive and what is important is that the demand follows new supply” says Gheorghe Marian Cristescu, the President and Board Member of Chopin Airport Development.
During the first half of 2017, revenue per available room increased in most major urban centres, which was mainly due to the increase of average room rates. The average daily room rate increased in Warsaw by over 9% (£68), by over 5% in Krakow (£64), by almost 7% in Poznan (£61), and by 3% in Wroclaw (£49). This is a very positive trend in the Polish hotel market which for many years suffered price stagnation. At the beginning of 2018 the first Renaissance Hotel in Poland will open opposite the Warsaw Chopin Airport, with 225 rooms it will be the first five-star hotel in Poland located next to an airport. Another facility under construction and 0pening in 2018 is the three star, 100 room, Moxy Hotel near Katowice-Pyrzowice Airport, the first Moxy brand hotel in Poland. Moxy is a Marriott International mid-range brand. Two other hotel projects in the planning phase are the Moxy hotel at Poznan Airport and Holiday Inn Express at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport. Both with 120 keys each, the hotels will open in 2019.
Between 2012 (when the country hosted the UEFA Euro Cup) and 2016, the number of hotels increased by 22% from 2,014 to 2,463. Three-star hotels, represented 49% with an annual growth rate of 7.2% and dominate the country’s hotel market. According to Hotel Analyst, and Christie & Co. the upper midrange segment continued to expand, with four-star establishments experiencing a growth rate of 12.4%. From 2012 to 2016, the number of tourism arrivals in hotels increased by 46%, reaching approximately 19.6 million - a compound annual growth rate of 9.9 percent. The number of overnight stays rose from 24.9 million in 2012 to 37.2 million in 2016, increasing 10.6% annually. Approximately 20% of overnight stays were visitors from key international source markets, such as Germany, Great Britain, Ukraine, Italy and the U.S. The country recorded 11.2% growth in 2016 (twice the average growth rate in Western markets). In all key cities bed occupancy rates have reached levels of almost 50%. Overall, the strong demand in all key cities surpassed the supply growth rates, resulting in higher traveller-to-bed rations and thus, suggesting room for additional supply. Almost 50% is attractive when returns are hard to come by in mature market.
