France’s independent hotels earned more per room in July and August 2026 than those in Italy, Spain or Portugal, while occupancy fell, according to a report by Amenitiz. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose 1.8% to €94. The average price per night sold rose 3.8% to €145, the highest of the four countries. Occupancy fell 1.3 points to 64.8%.
The report, “The State of Independent Hospitality in Southern Europe,” draws on data from 9,312 independent properties across 49 regions of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Amenitiz is a management system for independent hotels. The report is the first built on operating data of independent properties in the four countries, with figures by region and department. Independent properties make up more than 90% of accommodation in southern Europe. The consultancies that publish annual figures measure only chains and hotels of more than 50 rooms.
Most hotel industry reports cover only chains and larger hotels, even though small independent hotels, guest houses and holiday homes make up the vast majority of properties in Southern Europe. This report looks at how those smaller properties performed in four countries. In France, prices rose while fewer nights were booked, and it was the most expensive of the four, with the most direct bookings, more than one in three made without an online agency. Italy had the steadiest year, with prices and occupancy barely changing as the south improved and the north slipped. Spain was the only country where prices and occupancy rose together, which lifted revenue per room. Portugal had the highest occupancy of the four, and higher prices made up for a small drop. French guests tend to book well in advance and stay a few nights, and each booking brings in a meaningful amount for the property.
“Until now, independent hoteliers have had no benchmark built on businesses like theirs,” said Alexandre Guinefolleau, co-founder and CEO of Amenitiz. “Because we work with 11,000 independent properties in France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal, we’re in a unique position to measure a part of the industry that has always been left out.”
France reached a RevPAR of €94, ahead of Portugal, Spain and Italy. Direct bookings account for 36% of bookings in France, the highest share of the four countries. Nine of the 10 most direct regions in southern Europe are French, including Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Occitanie.
Independent hotels in France raised their nightly prices over the past year, while fewer rooms were filled. Overall revenue per room still grew slightly, but the typical property saw no real gain. The increase came mainly from characterful hotels and guest houses, which pulled the average up. French independent hospitality chose price over volume. The bet paid off in July and was neutral in August. The question for 2027 is not “should we raise prices again,” but “how far in August.
Corsica ranks second of 49 regions for revenue per room, behind the Balearic Islands, and grew the most in France. Normandy ranks eighth, ahead of Tuscany. Centre-Val de Loire fell the most, losing 8 points of occupancy. Pays de la Loire and Île-de-France also declined. Corse-du-Sud leads on revenue per room. Marne, Eure and Drôme rank among France’s most expensive departments, alongside the Côte d’Azur and Corsica.
