Marriott posts 2.8% MidEast RevPAR gains in Q1

Marriott International has reported a positive start to 2014 across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), with a 2.8% increase in revenue per available room (RevPar) in the first quarter.

The hotel group said across its 154 properties in the region, excluding Egypt, occupancy rates rose by 4.2% compared to the same period last year.

Marriott highlighted the performance of hotels in Qatar which saw occupancy increase by nine percent to 70%  in January compared to the year-earlier period.

In Egypt, the hotelier said it saw a dip in revenue resulting in reduced overall Q1 revenue of 0.6%.

Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director of Marriott International, MEA, said: “A combination of increased travel across the region and new hotel openings has led to a positive start to the year for Marriott International.

"As we forge ahead our aim is to make sure we continue to provide the right hotels, in the right location, to meet the demands of both the business and leisure traveller.”

Referring to the dip in overall Q1 revenues due to the Egyptian market, Kyriakidis added: “Egypt, with seven hotels for us, continues to be a challenging market but we are hopeful that the recent elections will bring stability and ultimately safer travel and increased tourism.”

Marriott's current MEA pipeline stands at 161 properties, across 18 countries, offering a total of 23,701 rooms spanning eight brands.

Earlier this month, Marriott International said it is set to sign a new partnership with Dubai’s Emirates Group and is already in talks to expand its recently acquired African-focused Protea Hotels brand into the Middle East.

Marriott already has a long standing partnership with Emirates, including managing the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai and providing hospitality for the carriers crew around the world, but the American hotelier is set to announce further ties with the group.