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Abu Dhabi hotel occupancy surges 78pc

Abu Dhabi, June 30, 2014

Abu Dhabi’s hotel sector has witnessed a 78 per cent increase in occupancy rates from January to May this year, an eight per cent uplift on the same period last year.
 
More than 1.4 million guests stayed in the emirate’s 155 hotels and hotel apartments, a 30 per cent increase over the same period last year, according to figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).
 
The hotel revenues rose 14 per cent to Dh2.6 billion (US $728.6 million) with food and beverage income climbing 12 per cent to just over Dh1 billion, it said.
 
Jasem Al Darmaki, deputy director general, said: “Overall the performance makes for good reading though there are two areas of concern – the average-length-of-stay and the average room rate, both of which have dipped on 2013.”
 
The average-length-of-stay slipped by six per cent to just over three nights while the average room rate slid four per cent to Dh448.
 
“There is increased and enhanced product now coming into the market to give people more compelling reasons both to visit and to stay longer,” said Al Darmaki.
 
“And the average room rate now represents exceptional consumer value. We will be pushing these messages out vigorously through all our marketing and communications channels across our entire local, regional international trade and media networks.”
 
The first five months have seen 30 per cent growth in domestic guests coming into Abu Dhabi while internationally India is now the top performing market for the emirate.
 
The UK is the emirate’s second most productive market with, which saw a 28 per cent visitor rise on 2013.
 
Germany came in third in terms of international delivery with seven per cent more Germans checking in and an eight per cent increase in guest nights.
 
China, the emirate’s fourth most productive overseas source market, delivered the biggest increases with a 204 per cent jump and a 180 per cent rise in guest nights.
 
“We have high hopes of building on the interest from China with arrivals – which were totally focussed on group business – now increasingly branching out into FIT arrivals,” said Al Darmaki.
 
Meanwhile, the Russians remain Abu Dhabi’s longest stayers, averaging 6.22 nights each in the emirate.
 
“We are poised to achieve our 2014 guest arrivals target of 3.2 million and anticipate increased business from Australia and Italy with Etihad Airways’ planned launch, this July, of new routes from Perth and Rome,” added Al Darmaki. - TradeArabia News Service



Tags: abu dhabi | hotel | increase | Occupancy |

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