Abu Dhabi’s 142 hotels and hotel apartments had their best April on record last month with rises in most key performance indicators, according to figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).
During the month some 236,704 guests checked into Abu Dhabi accommodation, a 20% rise on April last year – with guest nights jumping by almost a third to 738,797.
The average-length-of-stay of hotel guests during April was 3.12 nights, a growth of 8% on the same month last year.
During April, Abu Dhabi’s occupancy rate also climbed 12% and revenue rose 18% to AED 468,474,193 (US $127.6 million). Room revenue was up 21% to AED 238,135,624 (US $64.8 million) while F&B turned in yet a stellar performance rising 16% to AED 183,853,608 (US $50 million).
The only dip in the figures was recorded in the average room rate which fell by 6% standing at AED 453 (US $123.3).
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HE Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, TCA Abu Dhabi said: “One of the most encouraging results is the progress we are making, with our partners, in expanding the average-length-of-stay of Abu Dhabi’s hotel guests and this will remain one of our key deliverables throughout the coming months.”
Commenting on the factors contributing to the buoyant April figures HE Mubarak Al Muhairi, added: “There were a number of key events – the hosting of the World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit and Abu Dhabi International Book Fair among them – and these will have delivered enhanced performance and demonstrate the importance of business events and exhibitions in the tourism mix.”
April continues a month-on-month upward trend in guests, guest nights and average-length-of-stay for Abu Dhabi, which is this year targeting an annual hotel guest performance of 2.5 million.
Performance for the first four months of this year shows 10% growth in hotel guests to 868,121, a 25% uplift in guest nights to 2.9 million, a 13% rise in average length-of-stay to 3.29 nights, a 9% increase in occupancy to 73% and a 16% surge in total revenue to AED 1.9 billion (US $517.4 million) with a slight dip of 3% in average room rate to AED 480 (US $130.7).
Domestic tourism remains solid with 283,856 guests from within the UAE delivering 649,114 guest nights in the first four months of this year with an average-length-of-stay of 2.29.
On the international front, the UK remains the emirate’s largest overseas source market for hotel guests with some 54,050 Brits staying in Abu Dhabi’s hotels in the first four months – a 10% rise on the same period last year. The guest stayed on average, 4.71 nights – up 11% on the corresponding period – and accounted for 254,768 guest nights – up 22%.
India is the second largest overseas market for hotel guests with a total of 50,057 Indians checking into Abu Dhabi’s hotels from January to April this year – an 18% lift on the same period last year.
Russia turned in the biggest percentage growth over the four months with 10,101 Russian nationals staying in the emirate – a 66% increase on last year – which translated into 62,281 guest nights, up 73% year-on-year.
Russians are also proving to be the emirate’s longest stayers, averaging 6.17 nights.
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