According to data compiled by STR Global, ho
tels the Middle East and Africa witnessed for May 2012, the region’s occupancy jumped 13.3% to 60.4%, its ADR fell 1.6% to US$146.32 and its RevPAR rose 11.5% to US$88.39.
“Across the region, we saw strong growth in occupancy as travellers return to the countries impacted by the Arab Spring last year; average room rates remained under pressure,” said Elizabeth Randall, managing director of STR Global. “Interestingly, despite the ongoing dramatic situation across Syria, where we track nine hotels, occupancy increased by 72.5%, however this relates actually only to 7.9% points growth to 18.7% occupancy achieved. This occupancy level is in line with recent months.”
Highlights among the region’s key markets for May 2012 include Cairo, Egypt, reported the largest occupancy increase, rising 41.1% to 49.4%. Four other markets experienced occupancy increases of more than 20%: Muscat, Oman (+31.2% to 53.6%); Manama, Bahrain (+29.4% to 43.8%); Amman, Jordan (+25.9% to 72.1%); and Cape Town, South Africa (+20.2% to 54.8%).
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, especially Riyadh witnessed a fall of 13.8% to 63.8%, posting the largest occupancy decrease, followed by Doha, Qatar, with an 11.6% decrease to 57.0%. Amman reported the only double-digit ADR increase, up 21.5% to US$172.09. However, the ADR decrease was also witnessed by Cairo with a 12.4% decrease to US$97.55.
Finally, the four markets that achieved RevPAR increases of more than 25% included Amman (+53.0% to US$124.02); Manama (+37.2% to US$90.40); Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (+26.7% to US$176.20); and Muscat (+26.2% to US$99.83).
