Abu Dhabi's hospitality sector reported declines across key performance metrics in February with the steepest fall recorded in revenue per available room (RevPAR), which fell 32.5 per cent to Dh376.17 ($102.4) year-on-year, said a report.

Average daily rate (ADR) dropped 28.5 per cent to Dh493.02 ($134.2) and occupancy levels slipped 5.5 per cent to 76.3 per cent, said a preliminary report released by STR Global, a hotel data benchmarking company.

According to the report, performance decreases were driven by an off year for the biennial International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX). In February 2015, IDEX boosted RevPAR 29.9 per cent. For the first day of the conference last year, RevPAR was up 162 per cent due to a 125.8 per cent increase in ADR.

Additionally, STR analysts note that supply in Abu Dhabi continued to grow (over 4 per cent) in February 2016, while demand softened (-1.7 per cent) due to a lack of events.

Abu Dhabi will host next year’s IDEX from February 19 to 23, 2017. - TradeArabia News Service