Abu Dhabi’s 146 hotels and hotel apartments delivered ‘best ever’ May results with 232,650 guests checking into the emirate’s accommodation – a rise of 21 per cent over the same month in 2012.

The hotels also recorded 716,041 guest nights, which is up 32 per cent on the month-to-month comparison, said Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which compiles the monthly figures.

“This is an extremely heartening result as we look to achieve a greater traction to balance our supply-and demand equation.

“We are particularly encouraged by growth in the average-length-of-stay, which has moved up 9 per cent to 3.08 nights. This suggests that our campaign to convince travellers of our ‘more to see and do’ destination proposition is converting extended stays. While there is still much to be done, the results suggest we are on the right track.”

Occupancy rates nudged up 7 per cent during May to 67 per cent with total revenues climbing 22 per cent to Dh439.5 million ($119.7 million), which represents a 22 per cent month-on-month growth. Room revenues rose 23 per cent to Dh205.15 million ($55.9 million) while food & beverage income grew 23 per cent to Dh185.8 million ($50.6 million). Average room rate was the only non-climber, it slipped a mere 1 per cent to Dh401 ($109).

Abu Dhabi has now experienced consistent arrivals growth every month this year and leaves it well placed to achieve its 2013 hotel guest target of 2.5 million, Al Muhairi said.

To date, 1.1 million guests have stayed in the emirate’s hotels this year – a 12 per cent rise on the first five months of 2012.

The guests have delivered 3,573,854 guest nights – which is up 26 per cent year-to-date with the average-length-of-stay moving up 13 per cent to 3.25 nights.

Year-to-date revenues have climbed 17 per cent to Dh2.3 billion ($626 million) of which F&B accounted for Dh908 million ($247.3 million) and is up 15 per cent on 2012. Average room rate in the first five months came in at Dh464 ($126.3).

“The destination represents incredible value-for-money when consumers take into account the increasing high standard of accommodation and services offered,” said Al Muhairi.

“We have recognised the challenge of the traditional summer month slow down and, with keen stakeholder backing, are offering visitors incentives through the SummerFest Abu Dhabi campaign with its headline concerts, sports and family entertainment programme and ‘Thrilling Stays’ packages at over 40 hotels in the emirate which includes free tickets to our headline Yas Island attractions of Yas Waterworld and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.”

This May domestic tourism proved a stalwart for Abu Dhabi with a 9 per cent growth in guests to 81,358. India took over from the UK as the emirate’s largest international source market with 15,091 Indians checking into Abu Dhabi – a 37 per cent rise on 2012. The Indian guests delivered 54,734 guests nights – up 33 per cent on last year and stayed, on average, 3.63 nights.

The UK – traditionally Abu Dhabi’s leading overseas source market – ranked second in May with some 12,978 Britons checking into the emirate in May this year.

“The good news is that the UK is still achieving growth for us. Some 18 per cent more UK nationals have checked into our hotels this  May than in the same period last  May and they are delivering increased number of guest nights and staying, on average, a healthy 4.59 nights,” explained Al Muhairi.

Germany, the destination’s third largest overseas source market is also in growth mode with 11,740 Germans checking into the destination in May – up 60 per cent on last year.

“A key indicator from Germany is the increasing length-of-stay of the German guest – which is now 5.29 nights and is up 10 per cent on last year,” said Al Muhairi.

Year-on-year the UK maintains its leading source market profile while Russian guests are proving the longest-stayers, averaging 6.17 nights. – TradeArabia News Service