Yas Island hotels fully booked for November F1

General managers of five of the seven Yas Island hotels have said the properties are already fully booked for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix period between November 11 and 13.

Thierry Perrot, area general manager for the Crowne Plaza & Staybridge Suites Abu Dhabi Yas Island expected full occupancy at the hotel, based on bookings already received, with around 10% growth on RevPar during the race period, compared to the same period last year, he told Hotelier Middle East.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi Yas Island general manager Torbjorn Bodin said the hotel was also fully booked with expected RevPAR approximately 5% more than in 2010.

Similarly, Patrick Martinez, general manager for Yas Island Rotana & Centro Yas Island Abu Dhabi, said the Yas Island Rotana had already received all its bookings for the race period, while there were still “a few rooms” available at the Centro Yas Island.

“RevPar during the race period is pretty much the same as 2010, but the length of stay has grown. Last year we saw an average stay of three nights, where as this year we’re looking at four to five nights,” added Martinez.

Martinez attributed the increase in length of stay to the sale of package deals – tying in hotel rooms and other attractions on the island.

He also reported “slightly higher rates” at the Rotana hotels on the Grand Prix “shoulder nights” (one day before and one day after the race) compared to last year.

While the hotel general managers would not reveal the actual RevPar expected during the period, Bodin said the maximum daily rate for a hotel room at the Radisson Blu Hotel on Yas Island during the race period was in the region of AED 3000.

Rates during the first Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2009 were capped by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) due to high demand compared to a relatively low supply of hotel rooms in the UAE capital.

The caps were not applied last year due to an increase in the number of hotel rooms on the market driving down room rates, according to the tourism authority.

ADTA confirmed to Hotelier Middle East that the hotel rates would not be capped this year either.

“Rate capping is no longer deemed necessary given that increased room capacity has now brought more competitive market forces to bear,” said the ADTA spokesperson.

A spokesperson for the Yas Viceroy Hotel, which overlooks the Yas Marina Circuit, declined to comment on the number of bookings already taken for the race period or the expected RevPar.