The Middle East and Africa region has reported a one per cent increase in hotel room occupancy to 64.6pc in the first half of the year, according to an STR Global report.

The June results pointed out that the average daily rate (ADR) increased 3.5pc to $169.2 and revenue per available room increased 4.5pc to $109.2, a report in the Gulf Daily News said quoting the report.

"While there has not been a lot of movement in occupancy, rate has increased by 5.4pc when measured in a constant-currency basis in dollars, resulting in RevPar growth of 6.4pc for the first six months of the year," STR Global managing director Elizabeth Winkle said.

"We are seeing rate growth for all three sub-regions, including the Middle East (2.4pc increase), Northern Africa (2pc) and Southern Africa (7.2pc).

"It is good to see some ADR growth across the region, albeit muted, in spite of instability and turbulence in many of the countries.

"The Middle East has reported a mixed picture for the first six months of the year. Jordan and the UAE have been the standout countries so far this year.

"Coming from a low base, Jordan (11.4pc) and Bahrain (18.3pc) both recorded double-digit RevPar increases for the first half of the year, in local and constant currency," said Ms Winkle.

In June, the region's occupancy fell 0.6pc to 61.3pc; its ADR increased 3pc to $142.8 and its RevPar rose 2.4pc to $87.57, GDN reported.

The highlights among the region's key markets for June included largest occupancy rates in Doha with a 17.4pc increase to 75.2pc and Beirut with a 17.2pc rise to 63.7pc, while Nairobi reported the largest occupancy decrease, it said.

Meanwhile, Riyadh fell 6.9pc in ADR to $221.47, posting the largest decrease in that metric.

Four markets, namely Bahrain, Beirut, Cape Town and Doha experienced a RevPar growth of more than 15pc, it stated. - TradeArabia News Service