Tourism: Italy tops Europe for hotel capacity, Federalberghi highlights

Tourism: Italy tops Europe for hospitality capacity

According to a Federalberghi report, Italy ranks first in Europe for the number of hotels, with 32,943 establishments. The figure, published on 24 April 2026, reflects a transformation of the sector since 2000, marked by a shift towards mid-to-high range accommodation.

• Property types: 3-star hotels are the most common, followed by higher-category hotels; 1- and 2-star establishments are fewer.
• Geographic distribution: most hotels and beds are concentrated in Northern Italy; Trentino-Alto Adige leads by number of establishments, followed by Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Lazio, Lombardy and Tuscany.
• Room capacity: Emilia-Romagna leads in room capacity, followed by Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto and Lazio.
• Market trend: since 2000 there has been growth in average hotel size and an upgrade in categories; Southern regions tend to have larger establishments on average.
• 2024 data: 61% of tourists recorded in Italy stayed in hotels; hotel arrivals reached 96 million, up 3% from 2023.

The report highlights that renovation and quality upgrades have strengthened the competitiveness of Italy's hotel sector. Continued investment in sustainability, training and infrastructure will be key to consolidating tourist flows and improving hotel performance.