Dubai’s hotel profit up 22%

Dubai's total hotel revenue for 2006 increased 22.8% compared with the previous year, passing AED 10 billion (US $2.9 billion), according to figures released by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

Department figures showed hotels contributed AED 9 billion ($2.54 billion) to the total, with hotel apartments contributing the remainder.

Guest nights rose by 7.9% compared with 2005 to reach 17.6 million last year.

Dubai hotels also pocketed more in January this year than other cities such as London, Paris, New York and Hong Kong, DTCM figures show.

Dubai hotels generated $238.9 million, London $153.4 million, Paris $147.3 million, New York $146.6 million and Hong Kong $142.2 million.

The department's director general Khalid A bin Sulayem said the figures were a reflection of the departm-ent's work to position Dubai internationally as a tourism hub.

"It is also the fruit of an inspirational public-private sector partnership and government's unwavering determination to be a model destination," he said.

DTCM media relations executive Mohammed Abdul Mannan said projections for 2007 allowed for 6.8 million guests compared with 6.4 million last year.

When asked what the industry needed to do to keep improving, Mannan suggested several priorities, including: "[Provide] quality service, innovative marketing and promotions, and greater cooperation between the private and public sector organisations in the tourism industry".

"Dubai already enjoys these qualities," Mannan said. "But there is always room for improvement and enhancements."

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