Spain’s hotel prices increased 6.7% in September 2026 compared with a year earlier, while overnight stays exceeded 40.1 million. Stronger overseas demand supported the accommodation market as stays by Spanish residents declined.
Provisional figures published by the National Statistics Institute on October 23 showed total hotel nights rising 1.7%. Non-resident nights increased 3.2%, while resident nights fell 1.9%.
Hotels also earned more accommodation revenue per room, with growth exceeding the increase in guest-nights. For holidaymakers, the results highlight pricing pressures, although national averages cannot determine the cost of an individual booking.
Room Revenue Rises Faster Than Guest-Nights
Hotels recorded average daily accommodation revenue of €141.60 per occupied room, an annual increase of 7.4%.
Revenue per available room reached €110.50, rising 7.7%. This measure includes available rooms that remained unsold, making occupancy an important influence.
The figures indicate stronger room revenue performance alongside modest growth in overnight stays. However, neither measure establishes hotel profitability.
Operating expenses, financing costs and other business commitments affect earnings. These accommodation indicators also exclude income from restaurants, minibars, spas, gyms and events.
For tourism businesses, separating visitor volume from room income provides a clearer understanding of market performance.
Price Growth Accelerates After August
September’s annual hotel price increase followed growth of 6.3% in August. The change represents an acceleration of 0.4 percentage points.
Meanwhile, annual growth in overnight stays strengthened from 1.4% in August to 1.7% in September.
These comparisons describe changes against the corresponding months of 2025. They do not mean the same hotel room became 6.7% more expensive between August and September.
Across January to September, hotel nights increased 1.5%. Resident nights edged up 0.1%, while non-resident nights grew 2.2%.
The nine-month results show overseas demand contributing more strongly to accommodation growth. However, they do not establish why domestic stays weakened during September.
Island Destinations Capture Overseas Demand
The Balearic Islands accounted for 32.5% of non-resident hotel nights, followed by Catalonia with 18.4% and the Canary Islands with 17.7%.
Together, these destinations represented 68.6% of overseas hotel nights, demonstrating the concentration of international accommodation demand.
Mallorca alone exceeded 7.3 million overnight stays. Madrid, Barcelona and Calvià led individual tourist locations by overnight volume.
Spanish residents favoured a different destination mix. Andalusia attracted 22.4% of resident nights, followed by Catalonia with 13.8% and the Valencian Community with 12.8%.
These differences make local comparisons particularly useful. A national average can conceal substantial variations between island resorts, cities and mainland holiday destinations.
British and German Travellers Remain Important
Visitors residing in the United Kingdom generated 27.2% of non-resident hotel nights. Germany followed with 17.4%.
Together, the two markets accounted for 44.6% of overseas nights. France contributed 6.9%, the United States 4.7% and the Netherlands 4.6%.
The breakdown identifies important customer markets for hotels and destination businesses. However, the statistics classify travellers by residence rather than passport nationality.
Overnight stays also differ from visitor arrivals. Two people staying three nights generate six guest-nights, so accommodation volumes cannot be read as individual visitor totals.
Occupancy and Rates Vary Across Spain
Hotels filled 67% of available bedplaces nationally during September. Weekend bed occupancy reached 72.6%, exceeding the overall rate by 5.6 percentage points.
The Balearics recorded regional bed occupancy of 82.6%. Palma-Calvià reached 85.3% overall, while Llucmajor recorded 90.1%.
Price movements also varied. Ceuta registered the largest annual regional increase at 13.7%, compared with 2.4% in Aragón.
Five-star hotels earned an average €332.80 per occupied room. Four-star properties recorded €144.30, while three-star establishments earned €115.60.
Marbella led individual tourist locations for occupied-room revenue at €286.60. These figures describe different accommodation mixes rather than equivalent offers.
Travellers Should Compare Complete Booking Costs
Holidaymakers should use the September figures as market context when assessing actual accommodation offers.
Comparable quotes need matching dates, room categories and included services. Breakfast, cancellation flexibility, transfers and other extras can materially change the total holiday cost.
The price index reflects amounts hotels receive across different customer and sales channels. It does not represent one advertised consumer rate.
Likewise, national occupancy cannot establish availability at a particular property. Travellers should check their preferred hotel directly before changing plans.
September’s results remain provisional. Subsequent releases will show whether overseas demand continues strengthening and how accommodation prices develop beyond the summer season.
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