Abu Dhabi hotels witness 18% rise in guests for 2013
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Abu Dhabi’s hotels have recorded a profitable year in terms of guest arrivals, guest nights, length-of-stay and revenues. As per recent figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) for 2013, 2,806,283 guests checked into the emirate’s 150 hotels and hotel apartments. This resulted in a rise of 18% on 2012 and beating TCA’s annual target of 2.5 million.
The 2013 guest intake delivered close to 8.8 m guest nights; a 26% uplift on 2012, with total revenue climbing 18% to AED5.48 billion (US$ 1.5 bn).
“This is a highly satisfying performance particularly as we have seen 13 more hotels and hotel apartments open throughout 2013 and now have 10% more hotel rooms, totalling just over 26,000, than we had at the end of 2012,” said Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman, TCA Abu Dhabi.
“We are now looking to achieve 3.1 m hotel guests this year with a 10% year-on-year compounded growth in the near term. Over 2013, guests began to stay longer in the emirate with the average-length-of-stay edging up seven percent to 3.13 nights and with occupancy rising nine percent to 71%. Room revenue rose 21% to AED 2.84 bn (US$ 772.64 m) with food and beverage income climbing 17% to AED 2.1 bn (US $574 m).
Average room rate over the year slipped by one percent to AED 447.60 (US$ 122). Domestic tourism remained a mainstay of the destination, accounting for just over a third of all arrivals, comprising 960,476 in total which grew eight percent on 2012.
India became Abu Dhabi?s largest overseas source market for hotel guests, attracting some 175,929, a 27% rise on 2012. Indian hotel guests delivered 691,383 guest nights, which was up 24%.
The UK was the second largest overseas producer, with 162,973 Britons checking into the emirate’s hotels last year – a 16% lift on 2012. British arrivals accounted for 763,151 guest nights, 25% more than 2012 and they stayed, on average, 4.68 nights, seven percent more than the previous year. Germany came in as the third largest overseas source market with 119,590 hotel guests, a 24% uplift on 2012. Germans delivered 583,339 guest nights, which was up 31% on the previous year, and they stayed slightly longer (six percent) averaging 4.88 nights. The longest-stay guests were Americans (5.53 nights), Russians (5.5 nights) and Italians (4.92 nights).
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