RIU Expands Into Barcelona With Acquisition of Hotel Princesa Sofía

RIU Hotels & Resorts is making its debut in Barcelona after acquiring the historic Hotel Princesa Sofía, a 465-room property that will join the company’s growing RIU Plaza portfolio in April 2027.

In a press release, the Spanish hotel company confirmed the purchase of the landmark property from Blasson Property Investments and BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts, marking a significant expansion of its urban hotel brand.

Located in Barcelona’s upscale Les Corts–Pedralbes district, the hotel occupies a prime position on Avinguda Joan XXIII, near Avinguda Diagonal, Camp Nou stadium and CaixaBank’s headquarters.

The property is also situated opposite the Jardins de les Infantes and close to several University of Barcelona campuses.

Featuring 465 rooms across 19 floors, Hotel Princesa Sofía is also home to one of Barcelona’s largest meeting and event facilities.

RIU will officially take over management of the property on April 1, 2027, when it becomes the 14th hotel in the RIU Plaza collection.

The urban hotel brand, launched in 2010, already operates properties in major international destinations, including London, New York and Chicago.

For RIU, the Barcelona acquisition represents the culmination of a search that has lasted more than a decade.

“With this hotel, we are achieving a historic milestone, having spent more than a decade searching for the right opportunity to invest in Barcelona. The city has been a strategic priority for us ever since we launched our Riu Plaza line in 2010. We are approaching this project with the same enthusiasm and professional dedication that we brought to the Hotel Riu Plaza in Madrid, which is now our best-known property in the country,” said Luis Riu, CEO of RIU, in a statement.

The transaction was brokered by aCapital on behalf of the buyer, while Eastdil and Colliers represented the sellers.