The UK, Poland and Ireland are the three European countries that have achieved occupancy indexes that are 80% or better than pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest preliminary data from hotel industry market data company STR, which will be presented at the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF).
Details
According to a statement published on STR.com, as of 11 April, the UK showed a running 28-day occupancy that was 87% of the comparable 2019 level, and the country’s index has consistently been above 80 since 23 February, while Poland (84.5) and Ireland (81.3) had the next-highest occupancy indexes. However, despite having the second-highest occupancy index, Poland’s levels have decreased over recent weeks, after hitting an index peak of 94 on 29 March, according to the statement published on STR.com, which added that (as noted in an earlier analysis), Poland experienced an occupancy boost as a result of hosting refugees during the early days of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Statement By STR’s Managing Director
The statement published on STR.com included a statement from its managing director, Robin Rossmann, who said, “Europe’s occupancy recovery has accelerated in recent months, to 70% of pre-pandemic comparables. In general, leisure-dependent markets have been furthest ahead in the timeline, but there are encouraging signs, recently, of life returning to gateway cities that are more reliant on corporate demand. Our occupancy-on-the-books data shows that many of the major markets should recover to 90-100% of 2019 levels by mid-May.”
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