- After several years of recovery, Polish hotel market has entered a phase of stable growth. Demand across the sector remains strong, while hotels continue to improve their operating performance. Investor activity is robust, and alongside the development of new projects and the expansion of international brands, the modernization and repositioning of existing properties are becoming increasingly important. Polish hotel market is maturing, and competitive advantage is now driven more by quality than by quantity - says Katarzyna Tencza, Transaction Director at Walter Herz.

More than 2,600 hotels are currently operating in Poland. In 2025, the country had nearly 50 more hotels than a year earlier, while the number of available beds increased from 321 thousand to 334,7 thousand representing a 4.3 per cent year-on-year increase. Looking at the past decade, the market has recorded impressive growth, with accommodation capacity expanding by approximately 42 per cent since 2015.

International branded hotels continue to strengthen their position in the Polish market. As of March 2026, Poland was home to 263 hotels operating under 58 brands owned by 17 international hotel chains. Although branded properties account for just over 10 per cent of all hotels in the country, they represent a significantly larger share of the total room supply and continue to dominate new hotel development.

The Market Continues to Grow Steadily as New Projects Increase in Scale

The most notable change in recent years has not been the number of new hotels entering the market, but their size. Hotels currently being developed in Poland are significantly larger than those delivered just a few years ago. Investors are increasingly focusing on projects comprising several hundred rooms.

The most striking example is Hotel Gołębiewski in Pobierowo, which opened this year with approximately 1,200 rooms. A similar trend is also evident in Poland's largest cities. In Warsaw, the former Gromada Lotnisko Hotel has been redeveloped into the Campanile PRIME Warsaw Airport and Première Classe Warsaw Airport complex, offering more than 390 rooms in total. The project reflects a growing market trend of replacing ageing hotel properties with modern developments operating under well-established international brands.

The increasing scale of hotel developments is also evident in Poland's key leisure destinations. Over the last decade, the average size of hotels in the country's mountain regions has grown from around 60 to nearly 90 rooms, while on the Baltic coast it has increased from approximately 70 to around 100 rooms. As a result, market expansion is being driven not only by the growing number of hotel developments, but also by their significantly larger scale.

Warsaw Leads in the Region

Warsaw remains the leading hotel market not only in Poland but also across Central and Eastern Europe in terms of new hotel supply. In 2025, the city welcomed the opening of PURO Old Town and Moxy City hotels, while in 2026 the market expanded with the Campanile PRIME – Première Classe Warsaw Airport complex. The development pipeline remains strong, with projects including Canopy by Hilton, AC by Marriott Port Praski, and Staycity Aparthotel currently under development. Further planned investments include Cloud One, Holiday Inn Express, a third PURO hotel in Warsaw, and the redevelopment of Regent Hotel under the JW Marriott brand.

By the middle of this year, Warsaw's hotel market comprised over 19,200 rooms, maintaining its position as the largest hotel market in Poland. In 2025, hotel room supply increased by 5.5 per cent, the strongest growth recorded among the largest cities in Central and Eastern Europe.

Regional markets are also gaining momentum. In Cracow, following a wave of new hotel developments between 2021 and 2024, occupancy levels in 2025 surpassed pre-pandemic figures, despite the addition of approximately 2 thousand new rooms over that period. For the first time since 2019, the city's average annual occupancy rate also exceeded that of Warsaw. The Cracow market is expected to benefit further from the very limited pipeline of new hotel supply scheduled for delivery in 2026, supporting stronger operating performance and profitability.

Investment Activity Varies Across Regional Markets

Cracow remains one of the most active hotel investment markets in Poland. The city is currently seeing the development of the first JW Marriott hotel in Poland, the country's second Nobu Hotel, as well as the first The Hoxton property. In the upcoming years, the market will also be expanded by Arche Hotel and Le Méridien, which is being developed following the modernization of the Royal Hotel.

In the Tri-City area, meanwhile, the hotel market recorded the highest average hotel rates in Poland in 2025. At the same time, limited new supply supported improvements in operating performance. However, the largest wave of new hotel developments is still ahead. Projects currently under construction or in preparation include Renaissance, Golden Tulip, Radisson Blu, Swissôtel and Q Hotel Plus, which are expected to add over 1 thousand rooms to the market over the coming years.

Wroclaw saw the largest increase in hotel supply in Poland. Over a period of 18 months, over 1,3 thousand rooms were added to the city’s hotel market. However, such rapid expansion translated into weaker operating performance. In 2025, Wroclaw was the only major market in Central and Eastern Europe to record declines in both occupancy rates and RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room), and it currently remains the weakest among the five largest urban hotel markets in Poland.

Poznan, on the other hand, represents an example of a market developing at a more measured pace. Following years of limited investment activity, several new projects are currently being prepared in the city, including Four Points by Sheraton, Hotel de Rome and Y3 Signature, which could gradually strengthen Poznan’s position on Poland’s hotel market map.

Resort Destinations Raise Quality Standards

Strong investment activity is also continuing in Poland’s leisure destinations. Over the last decade, the number of hotel rooms has increased by more than 80 per cent in the mountain regions and by approximately 54 per cent along the Baltic coast. This growth has been driven not only by a rising number of new developments but also by the construction of larger-scale hotel properties.

Along the Baltic coast, 2025 saw the opening of several notable hotel projects, including Shellter Resort & Spa in Rogowo, Baltic Infinity and Sea & Forest Resort in Międzyzdroje, Nickel Resort & Wellness in Grzybowo, Baltic Jet Luxury Aparthotel in Ustronie Morskie and Lido by BlueApart in Jurata. In total, more than 960 new hotel rooms and apartments were added to the market.

The most significant development in the first half of 2026 was the opening of Hotel Gołębiewski in Pobierowo, with approximately 1,200 rooms — one of the largest hotel investments ever completed in Poland. Projects currently under development include The Sea Resort in Międzyzdroje, Essence Baltic Resort & Spa in Dziwnów, The One by Sun & Snow in Ustronie Morskie and Hotel Mariner in Krynica Morska.

Mountain regions are also developing dynamically. Following the opening of Mövenpick Resort & Spa and Forest Resort & Spa in the Sudetes, further projects are underway, including Harmony Valley Resort in Szklarska Poręba and Witkac Residence by Aries in Zakopane. In Muszyna, Arche Metalowiec has commenced operations, while in the Masurian region the hotel offer has been expanded with Aries Lago Park Hotel & Spa and Blue & Green Masurian Hotel.

Growing investment activity in resort destinations confirms that the hotel market is increasingly adapting to changing traveler preferences. Properties offering extensive leisure, dining and wellness facilities are becoming increasingly important, responding to the needs of both leisure tourism and bleisure stays.

A New Wave of Investment Is Driven by Renovations and Strong Brands

- One of the most visible trends in the sector is the growing number of refurbishments, redevelopments and rebranding of existing properties. Investors are increasingly leveraging well-located assets, adapting them to current market standards instead of developing entirely new projects. Repositioning has become just as important a source of new hotel supply as new developments. The upcoming years will belong to projects delivered under strong international brands as well as conversion projects. - says Katarzyna Tencza.

The modernization trend is visible both in the largest metropolitan areas and in regional markets, as demonstrated by the former Hotel Tychy & Tychy Prime, which now operates as B&B Hotel Tychy. Renovation and repositioning projects are also extending to the premium segment. In Warsaw, the Regent Hotel will be redeveloped under the JW Marriott brand, while in Cracow the former Royal Hotel will return to the market as Le Méridien.

The landscape of hotel brands operating in Poland is also changing. In the upcoming years, new brands entering the market will include Swissôtel, Grand Mercure and Pullman, while further expansion is planned by Canopy by Hilton, TRIBE, Mövenpick and other premium brands. The growing number of projects developed under international brands confirms Poland’s increasing attractiveness for global hotel operators.

Quantitative growth is also accompanied by an evolution in the structure of the market. Three-star hotels remain the largest segment, accounting for more than 46 per cent of total supply; however, the fastest growth is being recorded in the four- and five-star segments. Properties offering conference facilities, extensive dining concepts, as well as wellness and spa areas are playing an increasingly important role, reflecting both rising guest expectations and the continued maturation of the Polish hotel market.

Moderate Activity in the Hotel Investment Market

Improving hotel operating performance is translating into growing investor interest. In 2025, transactions completed on the Polish hotel market reached a total value of approximately €135 million, covering 12 hotels. The most significant deals included the sale of Four Points by Sheraton Warsaw Mokotów, the Noli Studios aparthotel portfolio in Gdansk, the B&B Hotels portfolios, and the Hampton by Hilton hotel in Kalisz.

Stronger operating indicators are making hotel properties one of the more promising asset classes within the commercial real estate market. The relatively low volume of hotel investment transactions does not reflect a lack of investor demand, but rather the limited availability of investment-grade hotel assets currently offered for sale.

Outlook

- In 2026, continued growth in demand is expected across the hotel market. A key factor supporting the sector will be the recovery of business travel, the expansion of bleisure trips, and growing interest in Poland as a destination aligned with the coolcation trend. Over the longer term, demographic changes will remain a challenge, requiring both more effective strategies for attracting international visitors and adapting the offer to the growing senior traveler segment - says Katarzyna Tencza.

The development of Poland’s hotel market is increasingly driven by quality, scale and professionalization. Investors are focusing on projects delivered under recognized international brands, the modernization of existing assets and the creation of properties that respond to changing guest expectations. The sector has reached a stage where growth is no longer determined solely by the increasing number of hotels, but primarily by improving the quality of supply and strengthening Poland’s position as one of the most dynamic hotel markets in Europe.