Eurostat data reveals a surge in short-term rental reservations in Poland, growing nearly twice as fast as hotel bookings between 2019 and 2024.
Shift in Tourist Preferences
The number of reservations for apartments and houses through online platforms has increased several times faster than hotel bookings in Poland in recent years, according to Eurostat data. Karol Wagner of the Tatra Chamber of Economy notes a change in tourist preferences and the advantage of short-term rentals.
Eurostat data shows a significant increase in overnight stays in short-term accommodation facilities (including apartments, studios, and rooms) booked via online platforms.
Doubling of Short-Term Rentals
Between 2019 and 2024, the number of “person-nights” in these facilities increased from 19.7 million to over 39 million, representing an increase of approximately 19.3 million. This nearly doubles the market size, with reservations in this segment being almost twice as high in 2024 as before the pandemic, a growth of around 98 percent.
Slower Growth for Hotels
During the same period, the number of overnight stays in traditional hotel facilities grew much more slowly. Data indicates an increase from 53.7 million to 60.3 million between 2019 and 2024, representing an increase of approximately 6.6 million nights. This represents a growth of about 12 percent, nearly eight times slower than the growth in short-term rentals.
Price and Cost Advantages
Karol Wagner of TIG points out that the Eurostat data reflects a shift in tourism towards less formal accommodation types, such as apartments offered through online platforms. He emphasizes that the key factor is not the booking method, but the cost structure and customer preferences.
“Booking methods are the same, as both hotels and apartments use the same platforms. However, the choice of accommodation is largely determined by price,” Wagner stated.
Non-formal accommodations like apartments have a significant cost advantage, incurring 40 to 60 percent lower production costs per night compared to hotels, allowing them to offer lower prices. Some may also operate in the gray market, without full tax burdens or categorization requirements, Wagner added.
Social Changes and Pandemic Impact
Wagner also notes the influence of social changes and experiences during the pandemic. “Guests appreciate greater intimacy and independence – a lack of contact with large groups of tourists and greater freedom, without the procedures typical of hotels. Younger generations are also seeking alternatives associated with freedom and a slow-life style,” he told PAP.
Regional Growth Hotspots
According to Eurostat data on the use of online platforms for short-term accommodation between 2019 and 2024, the largest increases in the segment were recorded in the Mazowieckie region (excluding the Warsaw capital region), where the number of overnight stays increased by 550 percent. High growth was also recorded in the Łódzkie (344 percent), Podkarpackie (332 percent), and Świętokrzyskie (263 percent) voivodeships.
At the micro-regional level, the number of overnight stays in short-term accommodation facilities offered through platforms increased most significantly in Podhale – from 1.87 million to 3.96 million, an increase of 151 percent. Warsaw saw a 70 percent increase – from 2.91 million to 4.95 million nights, the Tri-City area 55 percent – from 2.87 million to 4.45 million, and Krakow 25 percent – from 3.56 million to 4.63 million.
Hotel Sector Lags Behind
The hotel sector’s results are noticeably weaker. At the regional level, the largest increase in the number of overnight stays in hotels was recorded in the Warsaw capital region, increasing from 7.0 million in 2019 to 8.6 million in 2023, an increase of approximately 23 percent. Growth was also recorded in Lower Silesia – from 6.2 million to 7.9 million (a 27 percent increase) and in the Pomeranian Voivodeship from 5.0 million to 6.1 million (a 22 percent increase). However, in some voivodeships, the number of overnight stays in hotels decreased – including Opole (from 597,000 to 516,000), Lubusz (from 897,000 to 833,000), Łódzkie (from 2.15 million to 2.07 million), and Podlaskie (from 839,000 to 802,000).
