Marriott posts 10% rise in MidEast RevPAR in Q2

Andy Sambidge, August 25th, 2013

US hotel giant Marriott International has announced a 10.6 percent increase in RevPAR across its properties in the Middle East and Africa in the second quarter of this year.

Driven predominantly by a two percent growth in occupancy and 6.8 percent increase in average rates across the region, the company said the figures demonstrated "the strength of its portfolio".

The regional results build on positive global results, which saw a 25 percent growth in net income over Q2 2012.

Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director of Marriott International, Middle East and Africa, said: "Our strategies, planning, investments, employing the best people and hard work have clearly paid off as RevPAR and occupancy figures continue to grow."

Marriott International's regional performance was boosted by a number of key openings during the second quarter including the Renaissance Cairo Mirage City Hotel and The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal, the first Ritz-Carlton in Abu Dhabi and ninth property in the Middle East for the company's luxury tier lodging brand.

The company's development pipeline in the Middle East and Africa also continues to grow, it said in a statement.

During the second quarter of this year, Marriott International announced three new property signings, adding a further 1,094 rooms to its system - the 312-room Renaissance Dubai Downtown Hotel will open next year, while the 370-room JW Marriott Hotel Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and 412-room JW Marriott hotel Doha in Qatar will open in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Marriott International is also preparing to open three new hotels in Africa next year - the 104-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, 209-room Accra Marriott Hotel in Ghana and the 254-room Kigali Marriott Hotel in Rwanda.

These new hotels bring the total number of announced properties joining Marriott's Middle East and Africa portfolio by 2018 to 45, adding 12,919 rooms.

Kyriakidis added: "With our focus on the Marriott Hotels and Resorts brand, as well as the extended stay sector and mobile technology, there is a lot more to come in 2013."