AENA Plans to open hotels in major Spanish airports

AENA has taken the initial steps in its strategy to open hotels in major airports across Spain. They have enlisted the services of the consulting firm Catella to design its hotel plan and assess its potential within its urban development plans.

The first airports they have selected for implementing this innovative idea are Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, Málaga-Costa del Sol, Seville, and Valencia, which have the most transit passengers in their network.

This comprehensive project initially involves analysing the peculiarities of the tourism sector in the key cities where AENA has airport land available for potential hotel use. The analysis includes a review of hotel trends, the specific needs arising in the vicinity of each airport, and their commercial and financial viability.

Catella reports that it will assist AENA in drafting the tender documents for the land allocated to hotel construction and in finding potential investors or operators to carry out the projects.

When the first phase of the project is completed in the next few weeks, Catella will present AENA with an initial report on the hotel market's current status and an initial assessment of the airports where hotel development is being considered.

This type of hotel format, which does not yet exist in Spain, began in the 1970s and has evolved worldwide from simple accommodations for transit passengers and flight personnel to fully equipped hotel facilities sometimes even competing in the luxury accommodation sector.

Catella's Director of Hotels, Javier Bravo, expressed his enthusiasm for AENA's entry into the hotel sector, describing it as a "very stimulating" opportunity. He emphasised that this project is one of the most unique in Spain in recent years.

"We are excited to contribute our experience and knowledge to carry out this ambitious project, which will undoubtedly mark a significant milestone in the Spanish hotel industry," he said.