The Hotel Association of Portugal (AHP) released the results of its most recent survey, “Balanço Carnaval & Perspetivas Páscoa 2025,” yesterday, pointing to a good Easter, both during the school vacations from April 7 to 21 and during the weekend from April 18 to 21.
Reservations, Occupancy, and Price
According to data collected from 307 AHP member resorts, the expected national occupancy rate for the school vacations in this period is around 73%. The national average price (ARR) could be € 152, according to reservations pending as of April 13, the survey’s closing date.
The outlook for the Easter weekend also shows an average occupancy of 73%. Bookings “on the books” were at 64% on that date, and the ARR was 161 euros (9 euros higher than the ARR forecast for the vacation period).
An analysis by region confirms Madeira as the most sought-after destination, with an expected occupancy rate of 83% and an ARR of 152 euros on the books.
Also in the spotlight are Greater Lisbon, with an expected occupancy of 78% and the highest average price in the country: 210 euros, and the Algarve, with 72% bookings and an average revenue per room (ARR) of 138 euros.

The Azores have a 70% occupancy rate.
Other regions, such as the North (71%) and the Azores (70%), also have good occupancy prospects, albeit with more moderate average values.
The Center (56%) and the Alentejo (61%), on the other hand, despite registering growth in bookings, have occupancy levels below the national average, although in the case of the Alentejo, this is offset by higher ARR forecasts.


Markets in the spotlight
Throughout Portugal, during the school vacation period, the domestic market remains one of the top 3 source markets, mentioned by 77% of those surveyed, along with the United Kingdom (51%) and the USA (44%).
In some regions, the USA stands out, with 69% of those surveyed in Lisbon, and the UK, with 98% in the Algarve and 91% in Madeira.
As for the Easter weekend, Portugal remains at the same percentage of respondents, while Spain rises, mentioned by 47%, practically in line with the UK.
The USA and Germany remain important international markets, with a significant presence in various regions of the country.


Booking channels
The study also reveals that the main booking channels continue to be Booking (95%), followed by the hotels’ own websites (90%) and Expedia (38%). (It should be noted that in destinations where the US market is particularly important, especially in Lisbon, Expedia is one of the top 3 booking channels for 51% of respondents.) These figures reflect the consolidation of digital as the first channel for attracting customers.
Cristina Siza Vieira, executive vice-president of the AHP, points out that “Easter is traditionally an important time for the national hotel industry and the data we have collected once again reinforces this trend. We have seen sustained growth in bookings, a moderate increase in prices and a variation in the relative weight of the source markets, with emphasis on the growth in the weight of the United Kingdom and the United States, and a smaller comparative share of France.”
“It is also important to highlight the growing weight of last-minute bookings, which have been gaining ground in recent years. It is therefore expected that, in some regions and hotels, the occupancy rate will approach 100% as we approach the Easter weekend,” she concludes.

In Diário dos Açores-Osvaldo Cabral-director

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