Europe’s hotel market has experienced a fall in value as a result of the coronavirus pandemic but the sector’s outlook remains strong in the longer-term, according to global hotel consultancy HVS.

Sharp declines in revenue caused by the pandemic coupled with a more cautious approach to lending has prompted hotel valuations to fall over the past 12 months, although not as steeply as some had initially anticipated, HVS said in a report.

According to the annual European Hotel Valuation Index, in the year of the COVID-19 outbreak hotel values saw average declines of between 5% and 15% compared with the previous year.

Last year followed a decade of hotel value rises across Europe, with 2019 posting an average 3% increase – with some properties in Southern Europe experiencing 7% rises, HVS said.

However, widespread lockdowns in 2020 which resulted in the majority of Europe’s hotel’s closing for business, saw annual RevPAR fall by around 70% compared to that of 2019.

Mattia Cavenati, an associate at HVS London and a co-authored the report with Simon Hultén and Sophie Perret, said: “The impact of the pandemic on cash flows and profits has been dramatic, although government support and payroll subsidies helped to soften the blow.

“All tiers of hotel have been affected but particularly the upscale and luxury properties as they tend to be more exposed to group and convention demand as well as international visitors.”

HVS London conducted some 130 annual update hotel valuations in 2020, which showed that only a small number of properties experienced either larger declines in value or for some, a slight increase, whilst around 60% of these hotels experienced a decline in value of between 5% and 15%.

Hotels in gateway cities have seen less of a decline, buoyed by either the country’s political and economic stability, high barriers to entry, well-diversified demand bases and substantial government support schemes. In a flight-to-safety environment, the northern- and western-European markets are well-positioned to capitalise on these strengths.

Less central markets such as those in Eastern Europe, or those affected by more volatile political or economic circumstances such as Russia and Turkey, might remain less attractive as an investment proposition in the short- to medium-term, maintaining a dampening impact on values.

“While full recovery is expected in the sector newly found operational efficiencies such as more agile workforces, greater use of technology and the repurposing of space will enhance operating leverage as demand and revenues recover. Values will be enhanced by yield-hungry funds lining up capital, which will create competition and help sustain selling prices,” added report Hultén, senior associate with HVS London said.

Perret, a senior director of HVS London, said: “Hotels with weak business propositions will likely have to be re-purposed or re-invented but strong investor interest and weight of capital continue to chase assets with good potential and in strong locations, driving demand for deals that are realistically priced and limiting the degree of price discounting.”

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