Abu Dhabi tourism chiefs said on Monday that the emirate had recorded a 19 percent increase in hotel guests in the first quarter of this year.
Figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), based on its accommodation sector census, showed 462,173 hotel guests stayed in the emirate in the first three months of the year.
“We are on track to attain our year-end target of a 10 percent increase in hotel guests to 1.65 million,” said Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general, ADTA.
The figures follow on from data released by research company STR Global which said occupancy rates and revenues had fallen sharply in the UAE capital in 2010.
In March alone, Abu Dhabi hotels had witnessed a 45 percent slump in revenue per available room (revPAR) while average daily rates had fallen nearly 28 percent, STR Global
“These results have to be judged in light of Abu Dhabi’s growing accommodation inventory – which has gone to 17,600 rooms in the first quarter of this year, from just under 13,000 this time last year,” said Al Muhairi.
Average occupancy rates for Abu Dhabi’s accommodation providers in Q1 came in at 66 percent, he added.
The ADTA Director General emphasised Abu Dhabi’s increasing room inventory is changing the emirate’s supply and demand dynamics, ultimately making the destination more competitive.
“Hotel guest revenue for Q1 amounted to AED1.15bn ($313m) and the average length of stay was 2.7 nights. Both measures have dropped slightly on Q1 last year by five and eight percent respectively and we will be focusing heavily on improving both,” said Al Muhairi.
The latest figures reveal that Abu Dhabi’s hotel guests remain heavily business-oriented with an 80/20 business to leisure profile.
Abu Dhabi’s hotel room stock is set to rise further this year – with another 4,000-plus rooms scheduled to come to market.
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