Benelux: Brussels Attracts More Visitors

Since early 2012, the number of hotel rooms in Brussels grew from 16,700 to 17,420 rooms. The biggest new contributors were Pullman Midi (237 rooms) and Meininger (150 rooms, 719 beds). This accounts for a total growth of 4.3 percent.

The numbers for the summer holiday period show an average occupancy rate of 70 percent, the same as the year before. Considering the higher number of available rooms, this means the number of tourists in Brussels this July and August is 4 percent higher compared to last year. The average room rate also grew with 4 percent.

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Remarkable for this summer is that a couple of big events had a serious impact on the occupancy rate. The national holiday, presenting the new Belgian king to the public, attracted almost 600,000 people to the capital. Tomorrowland, the world’s most popular dance festival, far from Brussels, accounted for 8,000 extra overnight stays on every day it was held. The occupancy rate was 82.5 percent during this weekend.