Hotels in Cairo reported the largest occupancy increase during September in the Middle East and Africa region with year-on-year growth recording a significant 107.5 per cent, while occupancy levels reached 51.8 per cent, a report said.

In year-over-year comparisons, the region reported a 13.1-per cent increase in occupancy to 65.5 per cent, a 1.3-per cent increase in average daily rate to $145.12 and a 14.5-per cent increase in revenue per available room to $94.99, according to data compiled by STR Global, source of global hotel data.

“All three sub-regions in September saw occupancy levels of 60 per cent or above”, said Elizabeth Winkle, managing director of STR Global. “It is positive to see consistency in performance in spite of instability leading to uncertainty in several countries.

“Amongst the high performers, Saudi Arabia is one of the region's strongest in September as the country was gearing up for Hajj, which took place the first week in October”, said Winkle.

Highlights among the Middle East/Africa region’s key markets for September 2014 include:

•    Cairo, Egypt, reported the largest occupancy increase, jumping 107.5 per cent to 51.8 per cent. Beirut, Lebanon, followed with a 60.9-per cent increase to 55.6 percent.

•    Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, recorded the largest ADR (average daily rate) increase (+14.7 percent to $269.52), followed by Cairo (+12.7 percent to $107.86) and Muscat, Oman (+11.8 percent to $205.72).

•    Four markets achieved double-digit or more RevPAR (revenue per available room) growth: Cairo (+133.9 percent to $55.82); Beirut (+68.0 percent to $82.99); Jeddah (+21.9 percent to $216.34); and Doha, Qatar (+12.2 percent to $127.50).

•    UAE hotels recorded an occupancy of 66.3 per cent, edging down by 0.1 per cent and the RevPAR decreased by 3.4 per cent to $114.2.

•    Lagos, Nigeria, experienced the largest decrease in all three key performance metrics. The market’s occupancy fell 35.4 per cent to 36.8 per cent; its ADR was down 11.3 per cent to $248.47; and its RevPAR decreased 42.7 per cent to $91.40.

Year-to-date, the Middle East/Africa region’s occupancy increased 3.6 percent to 62.8 per cent; its ADR was up 1.9 percent to $161.62; and its RevPAR rose 5.7 per cent to $101.48.

“Year to date, MEA has achieved 5.7 per cent RevPAR growth”, Winkle commented. “2014 has proved to be occupancy driven, compared to 2013 when performance was more rate driven.” – TradeArabia News Service