The Atlantis hotel on The Palm has recorded almost 100 percent occupancy this summer despite Dubai hotels witnessing big falls in rates and revenues as tourist numbers dwindle.
Atlantis general manager Amadeo Zarzosa said the hotel was in a “very positive situation” because it had been almost full since the beginning of August.
“For the first six-seven days of this month we’ve nearly been at 100 percent. I don’t think we can in any way complain about our business, I think our business is outstanding; it’s excellent, he told Hotelier Middle East, a sister publication of Arabian Business.
“As far as our fair share of market, we’ve done extremely well and we’re very pleased with that; for the last three months we’ve been running in the late 90s and for a 1,539 room hotel that’s a very positive situation to be in,” he said.
Dubai hotels saw the biggest falls in revenue in the region in the first half of 2009, a survey by STR Global and Deloitte & Touche Middle East revealed last month.
Occupancy rates in the emirate fell 12.9 percent compared to the same period the previous year, and revenue per available room plunged 35 percent.
Meanwhile, the UAE is predicted to see negative growth in the number of tourists in 2009. The number of arrivals this year is seen falling three percent compared to figures for 2008, said Business Monitor International (BMI) in its latest forecast.
Zarzosa said the success of Atlantis was due to a strong marketing campaign, both globally and locally, which built on the hotel’s star-studded grand opening last year.
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