Southern Gran Canaria has established itself as a magnet for institutional capital, with SOCIMIs (Listed Public Limited Companies for Investment in the Real Estate Market) and large investment funds, both national and international, investing billions of euros in its thriving tourism sector. This influx of capital is transforming the hotel industry in Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, and the municipality of Mogán, marking a new era in hotel ownership and management in the region.
These investments not only elevate the category of these establishments but also improve the overall tourism offering in southern Gran Canaria, attracting higher-income segments and strengthening the destination's competitiveness. The growing market share of national hotel chains and investors, which rose from 32% in 2019 to 55% in 2024, according to Hospitality Investor's May 2025 survey, is a testament to the dynamism of institutional capital in the region.
The confidence of major investors in the destination's resilience and profitability is evident in the figures. A recent Colliers report from May 2025 reveals that the Canary Islands have attracted a combined investment of €3.200 billion in the hotel sector over the past five years. This is part of a total of €6.700 billion invested in the Balearic and Canary Islands. Furthermore, ICEX-Invest in Spain highlighted in February 2024 that hotel investment in the Canary Islands reached €1.175 billion in 2023 alone, representing 28% of Spain's total.
The source emphasizes that foreign capital accounted for 75% of these investments, consolidating its position as the main player in the most significant purchase and sale transactions. In the first quarter of 2023, institutional funds were the main players, accounting for 80% of the total hotel investment volume in the archipelago, according to CBRE. The presence of SOCIMIs and funds in the south of Gran Canaria is not merely a statistic, but a palpable reality in the hotel landscape. Blackstone, through its Hotel Investment Partners (HIP) division, has emerged as the largest hotel owner in the Canary Islands, with 22 hotels in the archipelago, representing almost 45% of its total portfolio in Spain. These types of transactions demonstrate the company's commitment to mature assets with potential for appreciation after major investments in modernization.
Spanish hotel SOCIMIs have significantly diversified their portfolios toward key tourist destinations. A clear example is Atom Hoteles SOCIMI, which, as GMA Corporate reported in May 2021, planned to open hotels in the Canary Islands, including projects such as Labranda Suites Costa Adeje and Labranda Costa Mogán, which were renovated with an investment of over €32 million.
