Abu Dhabi hotel room rates up as tourist season sets in

dubai — Demand outpaced supply Abu Dhabi’s hospitality industry during October, driven by the World Skills event and the upswing in the tourist arrivals.

According to STR’s preliminary figures for Abu Dhabi, both occupancy and average daily rates (ADRs) also witnessed upswings, with per-night rates touching Dh500.

The number of room supply increased 0.5 per cent, while demand grew at a faster pace of 13.2 per cent, pushing occupancy rate up by 12.7 per cent to 80.9 per cent.

“STR analysts point out that significant demand growth was helped by the World Skills competition, which was held on October 15-18. Occupancy was above 90 per cent three times during the event, while ADR was more than Dh500 each night,” the consultancy said in a statement.

The average daily rate, meanwhile, increased 2.3 per cent to Dh465.58 and revenue per available room witnessed 15.3 per cent growth to Dh376.88.

According to figures released by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the number of hotel guests increased five per cent to 415,985 in emirate’s 163 hotels and hotel apartments.

In the first nine months of 2017, the emirate received 3.5 million hotel guests.

“Globally, we have invested heavily in marketing Abu Dhabi as a destination of distinction, the perfect place to visit and explore, with an emphasis on an emirate steeped in history, culture and heritage. Our strategy is to highlight that Abu Dhabi has a wealth of natural and man-made attractions across all regions to entertain and excite the whole family while providing luxurious yet affordable choices of accommodation,” said Saif Saeed Ghobash, director-general of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. — waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com