Hotel industry in the Benelux - statistics and facts
The hotel industry falls within the hospitality industry and is depending on the availability of leisure time and disposable income among consumers. These aspects make the industry dynamic, but vulnerable when the economy is less strong and stable. However, regular tourism flow in the Benelux ensures constant development and competition in the hotel industry.
When looking at in- and outbound tourism, the Benelux profits most from its neighbor countries. For example, the number of people in Germany who went on vacation to one of the Benelux countries, grew year-on-year. If in 2013 there were approximately two million German tourists on vacation in the Benelux, in 2017 this number grew to 2.4 million. This has a direct effect on the performance of the national hotel industries. Not only do occupancy rates increase, but rising tourist numbers boost employment, revenue and the economy.
In the Netherlands, the revenue index of the hotel industry amounted to 139.2 in the fourth quarter of 2017, roughly 12 percent more than in the same quarter in 2016. The hotel occupancy rate rose slightly between 2013 and 2015, from 67.5 to 69.7 percent. Amsterdam had, of all the larger cities in the Netherlands, the highest occupancy utilization at 82 percent, whereas Rotterdam had 64 percent. The average price per night for three-, four- and five- star hotels was 106 euros in 2017, an increase of ten euros in three years time. Amsterdam had one of the highest average daily hotel rates, with an estimated price of 139 euros per night in 2018.
In Belgium, the annual revenue of the hotel industry had seen a decrease from 2015 to 2016, from 1.9 to 1.8 billion euros. The capacity decreased slightly in Belgium as well. However,hotel capacity in Brussels, made up of the number of beds, decreased from approximately 37,000 to 36,700 in 2016. Furthermore, hotel expenditure in Belgium reached approximately 895 billion euros from 2016 to 2017. A positive sign for both the hotel as well as the hospitality industry as a whole.
In Luxembourg, the number of bedrooms in hotels rose between 2006 and 2011, with 2011 as the best year with roughly 8,400 bedrooms. But, the industry saw a decrease again in the years afterwards, with 7,670 bedrooms available in 2016. Nevertheless, in 2015, when residents of Luxembourg were asked in a survey what type of holiday accommodation they used, more than half indicated to have used paid accommodation like hotels or bed and breakfasts.
For a long time, the hotel industry was not overly concerned about bed & breakfasts. These days the flat-sharing platform Airbnb is causing a lot of uproar, and not only because Airbnb is offering lower prices. Hotels are having a hard time competing with this new type of overnight stay. The Airbnb rentals are increasing extensively in quantity. If in 2010 the number of rentals in Rotterdam amounted to three, in 2017 there were 1,700. However, as of the first of January 2019, the local government in Amsterdam is planning to forbid longer rentals than 30 days, which is a month less than the current situation. Airbnb mentioned this will not only have a negative impact for them, but will result as well in a drop of the local economy of approximately 43 million euros.
When looking at in- and outbound tourism, the Benelux profits most from its neighbor countries. For example, the number of people in Germany who went on vacation to one of the Benelux countries, grew year-on-year. If in 2013 there were approximately two million German tourists on vacation in the Benelux, in 2017 this number grew to 2.4 million. This has a direct effect on the performance of the national hotel industries. Not only do occupancy rates increase, but rising tourist numbers boost employment, revenue and the economy.
In the Netherlands, the revenue index of the hotel industry amounted to 139.2 in the fourth quarter of 2017, roughly 12 percent more than in the same quarter in 2016. The hotel occupancy rate rose slightly between 2013 and 2015, from 67.5 to 69.7 percent. Amsterdam had, of all the larger cities in the Netherlands, the highest occupancy utilization at 82 percent, whereas Rotterdam had 64 percent. The average price per night for three-, four- and five- star hotels was 106 euros in 2017, an increase of ten euros in three years time. Amsterdam had one of the highest average daily hotel rates, with an estimated price of 139 euros per night in 2018.
In Belgium, the annual revenue of the hotel industry had seen a decrease from 2015 to 2016, from 1.9 to 1.8 billion euros. The capacity decreased slightly in Belgium as well. However,hotel capacity in Brussels, made up of the number of beds, decreased from approximately 37,000 to 36,700 in 2016. Furthermore, hotel expenditure in Belgium reached approximately 895 billion euros from 2016 to 2017. A positive sign for both the hotel as well as the hospitality industry as a whole.
In Luxembourg, the number of bedrooms in hotels rose between 2006 and 2011, with 2011 as the best year with roughly 8,400 bedrooms. But, the industry saw a decrease again in the years afterwards, with 7,670 bedrooms available in 2016. Nevertheless, in 2015, when residents of Luxembourg were asked in a survey what type of holiday accommodation they used, more than half indicated to have used paid accommodation like hotels or bed and breakfasts.
For a long time, the hotel industry was not overly concerned about bed & breakfasts. These days the flat-sharing platform Airbnb is causing a lot of uproar, and not only because Airbnb is offering lower prices. Hotels are having a hard time competing with this new type of overnight stay. The Airbnb rentals are increasing extensively in quantity. If in 2010 the number of rentals in Rotterdam amounted to three, in 2017 there were 1,700. However, as of the first of January 2019, the local government in Amsterdam is planning to forbid longer rentals than 30 days, which is a month less than the current situation. Airbnb mentioned this will not only have a negative impact for them, but will result as well in a drop of the local economy of approximately 43 million euros.
