Web Summit 2025: Lisbon Hotels See High Prices But Shorter Stays as Tech Event Kicks Off

Web Summit Returns to Lisbon with Focus on Hospitality Sector

The Web Summit is set to begin in Lisbon on Monday, featuring over 900 speakers and 70,000 participants, according to organizers. This year's event continues to highlight artificial intelligence (AI) as a key theme.

Hotel Occupancy and Pricing Trends

Lisbon's hospitality sector is once again benefiting from the Web Summit, with high occupancy rates and elevated prices, though demand is increasingly concentrated only during the event days (Monday to Thursday).

Cristina Siza Vieira, Executive Vice President of the Portuguese Hotel Association (AHP), noted that, as in previous editions, "the vast majority of Web Summit participants concentrate in Lisbon, with surrounding areas experiencing only residual effects." While specific data for this year is not yet available, she recalled that the 2024 survey indicated an average occupancy rate of 88% in Lisbon hotels during the event week, up one percentage point from 2023.

Miguel Proença, CEO of Grupo Hoti, which owns several hotels in Lisbon, observed a moderation in the number of days participants stay. "Occupancy in Lisbon units for the Web Summit period is quite high, but with an increasingly limited focus on the event dates, losing strength in the days before and after. Despite maximum demand during the four event days, the average occupancy over the traditional 10-day period impacted by the event has weakened by about 15% this year," he stated.

Pedro Ribeiro, Marketing and Sales Director at Grupo Vila Galé, reported that occupancy in Lisbon is "practically at 100%," with a 5% increase at the Ópera hotel compared to 2024.

Impact on Room Rates

Hotel representatives acknowledge that the Web Summit drives up average room prices, though Grupo Hoti points to cooling demand outside the main event days moderating the overall impact.

Miguel Proença explained, "The event naturally boosts the average price in city hotels," but emphasized that "over the 10-day period traditionally affected, average values were around 150 euros in the last two years, and the loss of strength in adjacent days brings an expected drop of about 20%."

Pedro Ribeiro noted a 5% increase in rates at Vila Galé Ópera compared to 2024.

The AHP recalled that in 2024, the average room rate (ARR) reached 221 euros, a 4% increase from the previous year, with the 2025 balance to be assessed after the event closes.

Profile of Attendees

There is a strong international presence, particularly from Europe, with a predominance of professionals in technology and business.

Cristina Siza Vieira mentioned the traditional prevalence of professionals from the UK, Portugal, Spain, and growing numbers from the USA in recent years. This profile "has remained consistent in recent editions of the event," she added.

However, Miguel Proença noted that while still noticeable, the USA showed a "lower response this year." He highlighted stronger representation from Ireland, France, UK, Brazil, India, and Canada.

Grupo Vila Galé pointed to guests from European and Brazilian markets without specifying further.

Several hotel groups and units were questioned, but no additional responses were obtained in time.