Dublin is forecast to be the fullest city in Europe, according to PwC's latest European hotel forecast.
The Irish capital is set to remain at the top of the occupancy rankings into 2018 thanks to a shortage of hotels and rooms in the city.
"The number of hotels in Dublin has remained relatively static over the last 10 years, with only five openings since 2007," says PwC. However, there are 80 projects in the pipeline of which 65 may be open by 2020.
London, despite a large number of new openings, is in second place in the occupancy rankings with a forecast 82% occupancy in 2017. Some 8,000 new rooms are set to open in the British capital this year, double the level of 2016.
Paris suffered a decline in occupancy to 69% in 2016, thanks to the terrorist incidents in the city, but is expected to start to recover lost ground this year.
The company says, "Higher occupancies reflect a structural shift towards more branded budget hotels in some countries as well as access to online distribution channels and a greater propensity to travel."
Occupancy levels in key European cities are shown in the chart below.
The study also looks at average day rates in these key cities. Geneva (€300.20) and Zurich (€244.90) top the ranking thanks to the appreciation of the Swiss franc and exchange rate assumptions against the euro.
Paris (€229.00) sits in third place despite a 4% fall in 2016 and forecast further falls in 2017.
