Thousands of New Hotel Beds Planned for Berlin, Green Party Demands More Control
Berlin, April 17 – At least 116 new hotels, adding more than 8,100 beds, are planned for Berlin in the coming months and years. These projects are in various planning stages, ranging from initial inquiries to approved construction, according to a response from the Senate to a parliamentary inquiry by the Green Party faction, obtained by the German Press Agency.
Uneven Distribution Across Districts
The planned hotel projects are unevenly distributed across the city’s districts. More than half of the planned beds, approximately 4,800, are slated for Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. Around 2,600 of these are part of a planned conversion of a vacant office building on Rudi-Dutschke-Straße into a large A&O hostel. In contrast, the Spandau district has only 75 beds planned.
The provided figures are incomplete, as the Senate did not specify the number of beds for many listed accommodation projects. Furthermore, the districts of Pankow and Steglitz-Zehlendorf reportedly did not submit any data.
Green Party: Bed Occupancy Significantly Lower Than in Paris
The Green Party in the House of Representatives has criticized the high number of planned beds and rooms. “Although Berlin already has a massive oversupply of hotel beds and despite declining overnight stays, thousands more beds are now to be added,” stated Julian Schwarze, spokesperson for urban development and tourism.
Last year, the tourism company Visit Berlin recorded approximately 29.4 million overnight stays in the capital, which is about 1.2 million fewer than the previous year. According to the Senate, the average occupancy rate in hotels in 2025 was around 55 percent, in guesthouses 34 percent, in pensions about 48 percent, and in youth hostels 46 percent. The Green Party highlighted that occupancy rates in other European metropolises, such as Paris, are significantly higher.
However, according to the Senate’s response to the inquiry, the industry considers the average room occupancy rate to be the crucial figure, which was around 74 percent last year.
Schwarze called on the Senate to develop a comprehensive development plan for hotels and to implement stronger controls over new projects. “New hotels should only be permitted if they are compatible with the local neighborhood.” He added that the districts themselves have limited options to prevent such projects.
Background on Berlin’s Tourism Sector
Berlin has long been a popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors annually with its rich history, vibrant cultural scene, and diverse attractions. However, the rapid expansion of the hotel sector has raised concerns about sustainability and the impact on local communities. The Green Party’s call for stricter controls reflects a broader debate on how to balance economic growth with urban planning and quality of life for residents.
The city’s tourism strategy has historically focused on increasing visitor numbers, leading to a significant increase in accommodation options. While this has boosted the local economy and created jobs, critics argue that it has also contributed to rising rents, gentrification, and an over-commercialization of certain areas.
Economic Impact and Future Outlook
The tourism sector is a significant employer in Berlin, contributing substantially to the city’s economy. However, the recent decline in overnight stays, coupled with a projected increase in hotel capacity, could lead to further pressure on occupancy rates and profitability for existing businesses. The debate surrounding new hotel developments is therefore not just an environmental or urban planning issue, but also an economic one.
The Senate’s future decisions on regulating hotel construction will likely have a lasting impact on Berlin’s urban landscape, its tourism industry, and the daily lives of its residents. The Green Party’s demands underscore a growing desire for a more balanced and sustainable approach to urban development in the capital.
Source: https://berliner-abendblatt.de/berlin-news/tausende-neue-hotelbetten-gruene-fordern-more-kontrolle-id330841
