Abu Dhabi hotels chart 26% growth in hotel guests

Abu Dhabi achieved 26% uplift in hotel guest arrivals last month compared to July 2013, with guest nights climbing 20% year-on-year, occupancy nudging up three percent and revenues rising 14%.

As per recent statistics released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), 215,286 guests checked into the emirate’s hotels and hotel apartments in July delivering 653,165 guest nights with occupancy coming in at 55%. Hotel revenues were AED 317 million (US$85.7 m) with food & beverage accounting for AED 126,416,520 (US$34.5 m), which is up nine percent year-on-year.

Occupancy varied considerably throughout the month reaching 52% for Ramadan and rising to a peak of 81% during Eid Al Fitr.

Jasem Al Darmaki, deputy director general, TCA Abu Dhabi said: “We still have an issue with average-length-of-stay, which dipped by five percent this July compared to last and we are looking closely at initiatives which will address this concern. Though, there is still additional ground to cover, we have to see advances made against the backdrop of a destination which has seen a 10% increase in hotel room inventory this year compared to last.”

Abu Dhabi emirate now has 157 hotels and hotel apartments offering a total of 27,928 rooms.

Abu Dhabi received 1,915,421 hotel guests in the first seven months– a 27% rise on the same period in 2013. The arrivals translated into 5.8 m guest nights – a jump of 22% on 2013 with occupancies at 73%, which was up eight percent on the comparative period. Hotel revenues for the first seven months climbed 15% to AED3.4 billion (US$928.6 m) with food and beverage income rising 12% to AED 1.3 bn (US $356 m). Average room rate is running at AED422 (US $115).

Year-to-date, Abu Dhabi has experienced a 25% rise in domestic hotel guest arrivals with 643,136 guests from the UAE checking into its accommodation and accounting for 1,467,379 guest nights – which is up 24%. The domestic guest is staying, on average 2.28 nights. India remains the emirate’s most productive overseas market. Year-to-date 124,912 Indians have stayed in Abu Dhabi’s hotels which is a 35% hike delivering 475,177 guest nights, which is up 24% and staying, on average, 3.8 nights.

The UK is the emirate’s second largest overseas market with 108,456 Britons checking into Abu Dhabi from January to July, which is an increase of 26% year-on-year. The British guests accounted for 468,223 guest nights – a rise of 15% – and stayed, on average, 4.32 nights. Germany is the third largest overseas market with 72,641 Germans staying in Abu Dhabi in the first seven months of this year – a 7% rise on last year. The Germans delivered 348,843 guest nights, which is an 8% uplift and stayed, on average, 4.8 nights.