Europe -  Istanbul

Istanbul is Turkey’s most populous city and the country’s cultural and financial centre. The city’s hotel market benefits from a variety of tourist attractions, such as the Grand Bazaar, the Aya Sofya (Church of the Divine Wisdom) and the Sultan Afmet Mosque (the Blue Mosque), amongst others, which attract leisure demand. Additionally, the city attracts both domestic and international corporate travellers. The Levent and Maslak financial districts are home to the headquarters of Turkey’s largest companies and banks, as well as the local headquarters of global giants in the financial sector such as Citibank, Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan and HSBC. Consequently, Istanbul benefits from being a MICE destination as well as a cultural attraction.

A crash in hotel performance was recorded in 2016 as RevPAR dramatically dropped by more than 40% in euro terms due to terrorist activity, Turkey’s involvement in the Syrian civil war and its unstable relationship with Russia. 2017 was overall a year of recovery for the city; however, currency dynamics continued to have a significant impact as Istanbul made a dual appearance in both the top five (local currency) and bottom five (euro) in our index for that year. 2018 has been a year of further growth for the market and its hotel values, especially in local currency (+44.7%), with more moderate growth in euro terms (+4.3%). The Turkish lira depreciated even further in 2018 (-30%) and boosted demand to Istanbul, mainly derived by visitors from Russia, Asia and the Middle East who now perceive Turkey as an affordable destination. This rebound in visitation led to RevPAR growth of more than 20% in euro (more than 70% in local currency) in 2018.

The city has benefitted from the return of Russian tourism after the flight ban was lifted in September 2016. Economic and political instability, which is seen also through high consumer price inflation and fluctuating GDP forecasts, paired with hotel performance volatility, prevents Istanbul from being a prime investment location. Although hotel performance has significantly improved, property values remain far lower compared to other European cities.

Although development activity in the city is at a standstill, there are several properties under construction in proximity to Istanbul, especially leisure establishments on the nearby beaches of which many are due to open their doors later this year or throughout 2020; these include the 130-room Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus.

Finally, owing to the current tense and unstable situation, the number of hotel transactions in the city has understandably decreased, with no major single asset or portfolio sales since 2010.

Change In Value For Market: (€Euro)

Significant Value Increase: Greater than +10%
Moderate Value Increase: Between +3% and +10%
Stable Values: Between -3% and +3%
Moderate Value Decline: Between -3% and -10%
Significant Value Decline: Less than -10%

Istanbul RevPAR Change (€Euro)

Istanbul RevPAR (€Euro)

For more information, please contact:

Sophie Perret, MRICS, MBA
[email protected]
  • +44 20 7878 7722 (w)
Magali Castells
[email protected]
  • +44 20 7878-7710 (w)
  • +44 7 850205149 (m)