Abu Dhabi hotel guest grows by 12% over 2011
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The Hotels and hotel apartments in Abu 
Dhabi witnessed a 12% increase in hotel guest and guest nights compared to May last year. Some 192,374 guests stayed in the emirate’s accommodation in May this year, accounting for 542,567 guest nights – a rise of 7% on May last year.
Total hotel revenue climbed 3% on May 2011 to stand at AED360 million (US$98 million). Food and beverage accounted for AED151.3 million (US$41.2 million) – a month-on-month rise of 14% – while room revenue over the same period decreased 4% to AED167.32 million (US$45.5 million).
Number of rooms available have risen 13% since May 2011 – hotel occupancy in May reached 63%, an 8% slip on the comparative month last year. The average length of stay decreased 4% on May 2011 to come in at 2.82 days.
“Average length of stay is a key performance indicator we are now actively addressing through our intensive Summer in Abu Dhabi campaign,” explained HE Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which has released the monthly figures.
The May results leave Abu Dhabi in a good position to achieve its 2012 hotel guest target of 2.3 million, with TCA Abu Dhabi anticipating gradual pick up from the US and Saudi Arabian markets. “In both countries we are now engaging with the outbound travel trade to produce significant packaging around stays of five nights and more,” explained Al Muhairi.
So far this year, Abu Dhabi’s accommodation providers have received 984,045 guests – a 14% increase on the first five months of last year. Guest nights over the same period have risen 8% to 2,834,886. Year-to-date occupancy stands at 66% – a dip of 7% on last year – though revenue has risen 2% to stand at AED2 billion (US$544.5 million).
Domestic tourism continued to perform well last month growing by 47% on May 2011, while inbound GCC guests jumped 20%. Guests from Asia rose 33% and Europe turned in a 15% growth. The GCC’s guest performance increase was primarily driven by an influx of Qataris (35%), followed by Kuwaitis (20%) then Saudi Arabians (19%). Asia’s guest performance was largely due to growth from China (137%), the Philippines (71%), and India (38%), while growth from Europe was spearheaded by growth from Germany (45%).
