While political and regulatory noise shakes other markets, southern Gran Canaria is breathing a pragmatic optimism backed by Savills data. The sentiment of major European investors for 2026 is crystal clear: 73% of the funds managing the continent's real estate assets plan to be net buyers of hotels this year. For a destination like Maspalomas or Meloneras, this figure is not just a statistic; it's a magnet for institutional capital seeking stable returns of between 6% and 8% annually.
David Kellett, head of hotel capital markets for EMEA at Savills, added, has put forward the key idea about what funds are looking for in destinations like the south of Gran Canaria: "Quality will continue to be paramount, both in terms of the underlying real estate assets and the strength of the operating platform, while investors will seek to be increasingly selective and often contrarian in their selection of markets and assets."
The trend on Gran Canaria's coastline aligns perfectly with market preferences: 60% of investors are focusing on luxury, followed closely by 53% who are betting on resorts and leisure properties. In the south, this translates into buying pressure on prime assets that offer the "operational resilience" so highly demanded by today's market. Funds aren't just coming to buy; they're coming to transform properties using a "value-added" model: acquiring three- or four-star hotels and upgrading them to five-star or ultra-luxury status.
The investor of 2026 has moved beyond simply focusing on occupancy rates, becoming obsessed with operational efficiency and carbon footprint. The renovation of air conditioning systems and thermal insulation—crucial in a climate like the Canary Islands' for reducing energy costs—have become prerequisites for accessing the increasingly common "green loans." According to Savills, those owners in the South who implement disciplined modernization plans are the ones who will achieve Internal Rates of Return (IRRs) exceeding 15% at the time of exit.
The conclusion for the local market is that quality has gone from being a slogan to a condition for financial survival. As the consultancy points out, the market has become "selective," and the winners in Gran Canaria will be those who manage to combine a solid operational platform with top-tier real estate assets. With willing buyers and a supply that is beginning to be renewed, the south of the island is consolidating its position as the playing field where major asset managers prefer to play for the long term.
