Hotels in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, reported the highest increase of 8.5 per cent to $247.56 in average daily rate (ADR) in March this year, compared the same period last year, in the Middle East/Africa region, according to data compiled by STR Global.

Nairobi, Kenya, jumped 60.5 per cent in occupancy to 60.5 percent, reporting the largest increase in that metric and  Manama, Bahrain, followed with a 32.2-percent increase to 60.7 percent, a report in Hotel News Now, quotin the STR Global data said.

The region reported a 0.7 per cent decrease in occupancy to 66.9 per cent, a 2.1-per cent increase in average daily rate to $178.18 and a 1.4-percent increase in revenue per available room to $119.19, STR Global said.

“The Middle East is once again driving the positive growth in the region,” said Elizabeth Winkle, managing director of STR Global.

“Northern Africa is reporting decreases, while Southern Africa’s performance remains flat. Market performance across the region is very mixed. Doha, Dubai and Muscat have achieved occupancy levels over 80 percent, but other markets, including Beirut, Cairo, Riyadh and Sandton, posted occupancies of 38.9 percent, 37.6 percent, 71.8 percent, and 67.9 percent, respectively”.
 
Beirut, Lebanon, posted the largest occupancy decrease, falling 25.1pc to 38.9pc. The market also reported the largest RevPAR decrease, falling 29.8pc to $54.45.

The ADR in Doha, Qatar, fell 10.4 percent to $187.18 posting the only double-digit decrease in that metric, the report said.

During the first quarter, the Middle East/Africa region’s occupancy increased 1.2pc to 65.5pc; its ADR was up 2.9pc to $179.74; and RevPAR rose 4.2pc to $117.72, the report said.