The level of hotel bookings in the main outbound markets predicts an optimistic 2024 beginning in Destination Barcelona

The Barcelona Tourism Observatory: city and region publishes the outbound markets report for the first quarter of 2024. In general terms, there has been a year-on-year increase in hotel bookings for the period analysed, with peaks coinciding with certain events in Destination Barcelona (e.g. ISE or MWC) and holidays in the various countries.

The main conclusions of the report, by source market, are detailed below.

 

Germany

• The German cities with the highest volume of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport keep being Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin.
• During the first quarter of 2024, there will be school holidays for Christmas, until January the 14th and for Easter, from March the 23rd.
• The region showing the greatest interest in Destination Barcelona over the last 90 days was Saarland. However, that Berlin was the area showing most interest in Barcelona city. The most popular search terms kept being the weather and Sagrada Familia.
• The Destination ranked 13^th in internet searches for accommodation and 6^th for flights in the ranking of international destinations. This last positioning has been quite similar to that of the last inbound markets report.
• The level of hotel bookings for the first quarter of 2024 from Germany is higher than the same period in 2023 for both Barcelona city and Barcelona region. There is a peak in bookings in the second week of January in Barcelona region and in the week of 29/01 in Barcelona city. Besides, an upward trend just before Easter Week is observed, in both geographical areas.
• Germans have booked, for these dates, an average of more than 3 months in advance. Stays will be around 4.1 nights in Barcelona city and 4.6, in Barcelona region. Travelling as a couple will be the most frequent in Barcelona city, and as a group, in the region.
• The level of hotel bookings in Barcelona city is similar to the average of bookings for other international European destinations (excluding Berlin), while those of Barcelona region are below.

 

Spain

• The Spanish cities with the highest volume of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport are Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, and Ibiza.
• During the first quarter of 2024, school holidays will be for Christmas, until January the 7th and for Easter, from March the 23rd.
• The region that has shown the greatest interest in Destination Barcelona over the last 90 days has been Catalonia. The most popular search terms were Sagrada Familia, the hotels, the weather, the parks, Tibidabo and several Garraf destinations.
• During the same period of analysis, the Destination has maintained the 2^nd position in internet searches for both, accomodation and flights, within the ranking of national and international destinations.
• The level of hotel bookings for the first quarter of 2024 from Spain is quite ahead of last year’s same period in both Barcelona city and Barcelona region. It must be highlighted that Spain stands as the first source market in volume for stays in the next few months Destination Barcelona, and the second, in Barcelona city.
• Spaniards have booked, for these dates, an average of more than 3 months in advance and stays will be around 2.3 nights long in Barcelona city, and 2.9 in the region. Travelling as a couple will remain as the most frequent way of travelling.
• The level of hotel bookings in both geographical areas is similar to the average of bookings for other destinations analysed, yet behind those of Madrid.

 

United States

• The US cities with the highest volume of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport keep are New York, Miami, and Philadelphia.
• During the first quarter of 2024, school holidays will be during the fourth week of February and for Easter (from March the 29th). In addition, Americans will have several holidays during these months, such as 15/01 and 19/02, both on Mondays.
• The region showing the most interest in Barcelona city over the last 90 days was New Hampshire, while in Destination Barcelona, the District of Columbia. The most popular search terms were Barcelona, and Sagrada Familia.
• During the same period of analysis, the Destination ranked 9^th in internet searches for accommodation (-1 position than in the last report) and 22^th for flights in the ranking of international destinations (=). It should be borne in mind that many Americans arrive in Destination Barcelona from other European cities.
• The level of hotel bookings for the first quarter of 2024 from the United States is quite ahead of the same period of 2023 for both Barcelona city, and Barcelona region. It should be highlighted that this is the international market with the highest number of bookings for the last quarter in Barcelona city at the moment. A peak in bookings can be observed in the week of 19/02.
• Americans have booked with an average of more than 100 days before the stay. Stays will almost get to 4.5 nights in Barcelona city and 3.0 in the region. Travelling in a group will be the most frequent in Barcelona city, as a family, in the region.
• Hotel bookings for Barcelona city are above the average for other international European destinations, while for Barcelona region, they remain well below the average.

 

France

• The French cities with the highest volume of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport are Paris, Nantes, and Nice.
• During the first quarter of 2024, school holidays will be in Christmas, until January the 8th, and during the month of February and the beginning of March, by fortnights, in the different French regions.
• The region showing the greatest interest in Barcelona city over the last 90 days was Languedoc-Roussillon​, while in Destination Barcelona, it was Lower Normandy region. The most popular search terms were Sagrada Familia, hotels and Gaudí.
• During the same period of analysis, the destination has dropped to the 3rd position  in internet searches for accommodation and it has remained 7th for flights in the ranking of international destinations.
• The level of hotel bookings for the first quarter of 2024 from France is higher than the same period in 2023.
• The French have booked for these dates close to 80 days in advance. Stays will be around 3 nights, which means a slight reduction on the fourth quarter of 2023. Travelling as a couple will be the most frequent.
• The level of hotel bookings for Barcelona city is over the average of bookings for other international European destinations (excluding Paris), while those for Barcelona region, are behind the average.
   

Italy

• The Italian cities with the highest volume of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport keep being Rome, Milan, and Venice.
• During the first quarter of 2023, school holidays will be in Christmas, until January the 7th, from the 12th to the 14th of February and in Easter, since March the 28th.
• The region showing the greatest interest in Barcelona city over the last 90 days was Sardinia, while in Destination Barcelona it was Umbria region. The most popular search term has been the “sea“, followed by Sagrada Familia, and the weather.
• During the same period of analysis, the destination ranked 4th in internet searches for accommodation and 5th for flights in the ranking of international destinations, achieving a lower positioning in each of the categories analysed since the last source market report.
• The level of hotel bookings for the first quarter of 2024 from Italy is above the same period in 2023 in both Barcelona city and Barcelona region. 
• Italians have booked, for these dates, an average of almost 90 days in advance. Stays will be over 3 nights long in Barcelona city, and 4 in the region. 4 out of every 10 trips will be as a couple.
• The level of hotel bookings for Barcelona city is above the average for other international European destinations (excluding Rome), while Barcelona region booking are below.

 

The Netherlands

• The Dutch cities with the highest volume of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport keep being Amsterdam, Eindhoven, and Rotterdam.
• During the first quarter of 2024, there will be school holidays for Christmas, until January the 7th, and during the month of February, by weeks, in the different Dutch regions.
• The region showing the most interest in Barcelona city over the last 90 days was North Holland, while in Destination Barcelona, Frisia. The most popular search terms were Sagrada Familia, the weather, and “places of interest”.
• The destination has ranked the 8th in internet searches for accommodation in the ranking of international destinations, while for flights, it has remained the 2nd. 
• The level of hotel bookings for the first quarter of 2024 from the Netherlands is ahead of the same period last year in both Barcelona city and Barcelona region. There is a peak of bookings in the first geographical area for stays during the second half of January and just before Easter.
• The Dutch have booked, for these dates, an average of more than 90 days in advance. Stays will be 3.5 nights-long in Barcelona city, and 2.7 in the region. Travelling as a couple will be the most frequent in the first area, while as a solo, in the second.
• The level of hotel bookings in Barcelona city is slighty above the average for bookings to other international European destinations (excluding Amsterdam), while those of Barcelona region, below it.

 

United Kingdom

• The British cities with the highest volume of air passengers from/to Barcelona Airport are London, Manchester, and Birmingham.
• During the first quarter of 2024, there will be school holidays for Christmas, until January the 5th, from 12/02 to 18/02 and, in Easter, from 29/03.
• The region showing the most interest in Destination Barcelona over the last 90 days has been Northern Ireland. The most popular search terms were Sagrada Familia, the cathedral, and “Things to do in Barcelona”.
• During the same period of analysis, the destination has maintained the 9th position in internet searches for accommodation and it the 7th for flights in the ranking of international destinations.
• The level of hotel bookings for the first quarter of 2024 from the United Kingdom is higher than that of the same period last year. There’s an upward trend in the hotel bookings as the Easter holidays aproaches.
• The British have booked close to 110 days in advance for these dates. Stays will be around 3.5 nights long and travelling as a couple will be the most frequent.
• The level of hotel bookings in Barcelona city, is close to the average for bookings to other international European destinations (excluding London), while Barcelona region‘s, lower.

 

More information: Outbound Markets in Destination Barcelona 2024 – I