Ramdan Kareem from AbuDhabiWeek.ae

Tasteleader

Tuesday, 13 March 2012

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January attracts 29 percent more hotel guests to Abu Dhabi

The number of hotel guests staying in Abu Dhabi’s 127 hotels, hotel apartments and resorts rose by 29 percent in January this year compared to the same month last year, according to the latest figures released by the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority

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Last month some 198,139 guests stayed in Abu Dhabi with the number of guest nights also rising, this time by 20 percent to 571,672.

“The strong increase in guest arrivals and guest nights appears to have been significantly influenced by January’s dynamic events calendar, which included the hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race and the fortnight of activities staged to coincide with it, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and the World Future Energy Summit, which attracted some 650 exhibiting companies to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre,” explained HE Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.

“Stays are also likely to have benefited from increased air access to the destination brought about by Etihad Airway’s recent launch of its four-times-a-week service from both Chengdu, China and Dusseldorf, Germany and  the start of Air Berlin’s four weekly flights from its home base.”

Combined revenue for Abu Dhabi’s hotels rose 11 percent last month compared to January 2011 to AED 408 million (US $111 million). Food and beverage revenue rose 18 percent during the same period to AED 155.3 million (US $42.3 million). Hotel occupancy stabilised at 66 percent - the same rate as January 2010  - though average length of stay was down slightly by 7 percent to 2.89 days and the average room rate dropped by 6 percent on comparative months to now stand at AED 503 (US $137).

“This is all promising news on which to start the year given that the past 12 months has seen considerable additions to the destination hotel room inventory. Competition has heightened, yet new beachfront and golf course fronting properties are significantly enhancing our leisure appeal,” explained Al Muhairi.

“We also anticipate good results for February with the recent World Ophthalmology Congress having delivered significant bookings for the hospitality sector.”

Domestic tourism accounted for 18 percent of January’s hotel guest tally with the GCC producing the strongest regional increase of 120 percent in arrivals, primarily driven by a 218 percent rise in guests from Saudi Arabia who totaled 8,574 in all, accounting for 18,415 guest nights – a 22 percent rise on January last year. This led to the Kingdom now being ranked fourth in Abu Dhabi’s international guest ranking.

Other GCC countries also proved good source markets for Abu Dhabi with guest arrivals from Qatar rising 69 percent to 2,022 last month compared to January 2010, those from Kuwait increasing 65 percent to 1,541. Guest arrival from Oman climbed 57 percent to 2,699 while those from Bahrain were up 45 percent to 812.

India sustained its ranking as the destination’s second largest international source market, after the UK, with a 45 percent rise in hotel guests to 10,924 delivering 37,559 guest nights, which was up 17 percent month-on-month.

“We are hopeful of further improving on arrivals from India having recently hosted a major inbound familiarisation trip for a delegation from the Travel Agents Association of India, staged a five-city road show throughout the republic and completed a highly successful showing at the SATTE travel fair in New Delhi,” explained Al Muhairi.

European guests increased 30 percent last month on January 2010 with Germany turning in a strong 64 percent increase to 9,204 to make the country Abu Dhabi’s third largest international source market. The UK, produced a 15 percent increase to 13,005, France accounted for a 22 percent rise to 4,004, while Italy turned in a 20 percent surge to 3,556 while The Netherlands climbed 47 percent to 1,532.

China also returned a stellar increase in hotel guests for Abu Dhabi – rising 235 percent in January compared to the same month last year to deliver 4,407 arrivals, 7,339 guest nights, and taking the country to eighth in the emirate’s guest rankings.

“Prospects from China should increase further with the impending 1st March launch, by Etihad Airways of a daily non-stop service from Shanghai to Abu Dhabi International,” said Al Muhairi.

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