“Condo hotel” is a term that originated in the English-speaking world. It comes from condominium hotel: a hotel divided into privately owned units. You will often come across it when researching investments abroad, sometimes used as a synonym for Apart-Hotel. Let us look at what it means and how it compares with an apartment.
What a condo hotel is
Two things coexist in a condo hotel:
- private units, each with its own owner;
- a single management, entrusted to an operator who runs the property as a real hotel.
The owner makes their unit available to the management. The operator lets it to guests, cleans it, maintains it and markets it. The rules of the arrangement, including the periods of personal use, are set out in a contract.
Condo hotel and Apart-Hotel: are they the same thing?
In substance the two terms describe the same model: split ownership, centralised management. The differences are mainly a matter of language and market. In Italy and many European countries people more often talk about an Apart-Hotel or a hotel residence.
What matters is not the name but the contract. Two properties with the same label can have very different rules. To find out more about the model we use on Boa Vista, read the guide What an Apart-Hotel is.
The differences from an apartment, point by point
Ownership
In both cases you can buy a real property. But be careful: with some products sold as condo hotels you buy a share or a right of use, not a specific unit. Before signing, always check what you are buying. We cover this in the guide registered ownership or a share.
Use
With an apartment you decide when to go and for how long. In a condo hotel personal use is limited to the periods set out in the contract, because for the rest of the year the unit is needed by the hotel.
Management
With an apartment the management is yours or that of whoever you appoint: guests, cleaning, faults, reviews. In a condo hotel the operator takes care of it. This is the main reason many people choose this format.
Freedom of choice
With an apartment you choose the furnishings, prices, guests and timing. In a condo hotel these decisions rest with the operator, who has to maintain a uniform standard.
Costs
There are costs in both cases. What changes is who organises them and how they are shared out. Always ask for a written breakdown.
Who each format makes sense for
An apartment is more suitable if:
- you want to go often, without calendar restrictions;
- you have the time, or someone you trust on the spot, to manage the lets;
- you enjoy looking after the home yourself.
A condo hotel or Apart-Hotel is more suitable if:
- you live far away and do not want a second job;
- a few weeks a year are enough for your holidays;
- you prefer to entrust the management to hospitality professionals.
You will find a full comparison, with the points to consider for each format, on the page Apartment or Apart-Hotel?.
The questions to ask about any condo hotel
- Am I buying a specific unit, registered in my name, or a share?
- Who is the operator and which properties does it already manage?
- How long does the management contract last and what happens when it expires?
- Which costs remain my responsibility?
- How do personal use and resale work?
- Is the return guaranteed? By whom, and by what means (for example a bank guarantee)?
The experience on Boa Vista
On Boa Vista the group has already built the White Hotel (its story is here): 69 suites sold, 100% of the units allocated, 4-star and in operation. The new project is The View, 65 suites on Praia Cabral, from €90,000, with ownership of the suite registered in the buyer’s name and 4 weeks of personal use a year. The financial and contractual terms are in the official presentation. How the model works on the island, with figures and a table, is explained on the page Condo hotels in Cape Verde.
Unsure which format to choose? Contact us: we can talk it through calmly, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called a condo hotel?
The name comes from condominium hotel, meaning a hotel organised like a block of flats: many private units within a single building. The hotel management, however, is unified and entrusted to one operator.
In a condo hotel, can I choose who to let to?
Usually not. Guests are handled by the operator of the property, which takes care of bookings and prices. If you want to decide yourself, the most suitable format is a traditional apartment.
Can a condo hotel unit be left to your heirs?
If you buy a unit registered in your name, yes: it is a property like any other. If instead you buy a share or a right of use, the rules may be different. Inheritance matters should always be checked with a professional.
Would you like to talk it through with a person?
Book a video call or message us on WhatsApp: we will answer your questions about Boa Vista and The View.
