Winter Break Didn't Save January. Hotels Report Low Occupancy

Poland’s hotel industry started the year with weak results. January 2026 saw a decline in occupancy despite the start of the winter school holidays. Data from the Polish Chamber of Hotel Industry (IGHP) indicate that leisure properties performed slightly worse than business hotels.

Falling occupancy despite the holidays

In January 2026 many hotels in Poland struggled with low occupancy. 29% of properties recorded occupancy below 30%, and only 28% exceeded 50% occupancy. The largest group (44%) recorded occupancy between 31–50%.

Business hotels performed somewhat better — 31% exceeded 50% occupancy. Among leisure properties, only one quarter surpassed 50% occupancy, while nearly half (48%) recorded occupancy between 31–50%.

Year-on-year comparison

The year-on-year picture was mixed: 37% of hotels improved occupancy compared with January 2025, but 43% saw declines. In the business segment 36% improved and 42% declined; in the leisure segment about 40% improved and 44% worsened.

Most improvements and declines were small (up to 5 percentage points), though 16% of business hotels experienced drops exceeding 10 percentage points.

Prices rising, but moderately

Average room rates grew year on year, but at a slower pace. 56% of hotels reported price increases versus January 2025, most often up to 10%. Forty-four percent kept prices at last year’s level or lowered them; 19% kept identical rates.

Weak bookings and February outlook

Booking data for February are worrying: 45% of hotels currently report occupancy below 30%, and only 17% exceed 50% occupancy. Among leisure properties almost half report below 30% occupancy. Only 16% of hotels are more than half full.

Winter break results disappoint

The second half of January, covering the start of school holidays, did not bring the expected boost. 22% of surveyed hotels had occupancy below 30% during that period; 42% did not sell special holiday packages. Only 22% of hotels were more than half full. Over half of business hotels did not sell seasonal offers, and 20% had occupancy below 30%. Among leisure hotels 16% did not sell packages, 32% had occupancy under 30%, and 16% exceeded 70% occupancy.

Survey methodology and sample

The IGHP survey was conducted between February 2–10, 2026, with 130 hotels from all provinces participating. 71% were urban properties; 42% declared a business profile, 19% a leisure profile, and 39% a mixed profile. 32% were network hotels. 91% of respondents were micro, small or medium enterprises; the average number of rooms was 104.