Abu Dhabi hotels inch closer to guest target of 2m

Hotel guests in Abu Dhabi increased 16 per cent in the first 11 months of the year to 1,903,888, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) said in a statement. Guest nights also rose 23 per cent to 5,694,140 from 4,640,893 last year. Despite an 8 per cent decrease in the average length of stay — the mean figure dipped from 3.22 nights in November last year to 2.96 last month — and small dips in room, food and beverage, and other revenue contributors, revenue from Abu Dhabi's hotels and hotel apartments accounted for Dh3.96 billion, a four per cent increase over 2010. Last month, Abu Dhabi welcomed 206,748 hotel guests, a 22 per cent increase over the corresponding month last year. Also, it is the first time in two years that the figure for a calendar month has surpassed 200,000. The strong performance ensured that Abu Dhabi entered December — a month when the UAE's 40th National Day celebrations and the year-ending Volvo Ocean Race host port stop-over are expected to give accommodation providers a further boost — less than 97,000 guests away from achieving its stretch 2011 target of two million hotel guests. Article continues below "Without putting the horse before the cart, we are confident that we will surpass our stretch target for the year," said Lawrence Franklin, ADTA Strategy and Policy Director. "We have already had hotels and hotel apartments report strong business over what was a historic National Day weekend and the expected influx for the end-of-year Volvo Ocean Race fleet should ensure December seals fantastic, across-the-board performance levels for the year." New properties added November's growth in the total number of guests and guest nights resulted in an occupancy rate of 77 per cent — the same as November 2010 — even though the emirate's hospitality portfolio has expanded with a range of new, luxury hotel property openings. During November the GCC continued its strong performance, with guest arrivals from the Gulf rising 47 per cent over 2010 figures. Qatar accounted for the strongest growth, with a 56 per cent year-to year jump, while Saudi Arabia rose 53 per cent, Oman went up 48 per cent and Kuwait climbed 44 per cent. Elsewhere, ADTA's debut roadshow to India in September underscored the potential for additional growth in the rapidly emerging market; the sub-continent giant contributed 10,982 hotel guests in November — a 48 per cent rise over the 7,409 Indians who came to the emirate in the same period last year. Promotional campaigns "It is extremely positive to see the Authority's ongoing international promotional efforts having a sustained impact, with markets such as India and Saudi Arabia — where we have held roadshows in the last few months — both performing beyond expectations," Franklin added. The UK is still Abu Dhabi's top international source market. Some 15,246 Britons stayed at the emirate's hotels last month, an 11 per cent rise over November 2010, while Germany remains the second-largest European source market — 7,630 German nationals checked in last month, a year-to-year rise of 19 per cent. Nevine Alber, Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi, seconded Franklin's statement that during November, the GCC continued its recent high performance with guest arrivals from the Gulf rising compared to 2010 figures. "The number of GCC guest to Abu Dhabi rose to more 47 per cent on 2010 numbers," said Alber.