The hotel industry in the Middle East and Africa region has reported mixed performances during August this year, according to a new report.

Data compiled by STR Global, a hotel industry research company, showed a 14.8 per cent increase in occupancy in the region compared to 64.3 per cent in the same period last year; a 7.5 per cent decrease in average daily rate (ADR) to $141.66; and a 6.3 per cent increase in revenue per available room (RevPAR) to $91.09.

“This month the RevPAR grew 6.3 per cent, primarily driven by occupancy growth across all sub-regions,” said Elizabeth Winkle, managing director of STR Global. “Egypt reported strong performance for the second consecutive month, due in part to low performing comparables in 2013 when the country experienced an outbreak of violence as the military moved to clear protest camps and resulted in a period of political instability. The question remains whether this uptick is the beginning of a turnaround for Egypt”.

Highlights among the MEA region’s key markets for August include (year-on-year comparisons):

• Dubai, UAE, fell 5.6 per cent to $181.83 in ADR, experiencing the largest decrease in that metric.
• Six markets reported RevPAR growth of more than 20 per cent: Cairo, Egypt (up 204.6 per cent to $63.65); Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (up 28.7 per cent to $103.45); Cape Town (up 26.8 per cent to $61.46); Manama, Bahrain (up 24.1 per cent to $110.52); Beirut, Lebanon (up 23.2 per cent to $101.17); and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (up 21.2 per cent to $206.23).
• Cairo, Egypt, jumped 180.5 per cent in occupancy to 58.8 per cent, reporting the largest increase in that metric, followed by Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ( up 35.1 per cent to 48.3 per cent), and Beirut, Lebanon (up 23 per cent to 59.5 per cent).
• Nairobi, Kenya, fell 13.8 per cent to 58.1 per cent in occupancy, posting the only decrease in that metric. Nairobi also led the RevPAR decreases, falling 18.2 per cent to $81.00.
• Cape Town, South Africa (up 8.7 per cent to $100.60), and Cairo (up 8.6 per cent to $108.29) achieved the largest ADR growth.                          - TradeArabia News Service