AHIC 2018 sees record delegate attendance in its debut at RAK
The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference 2018 (AHIC) which is being held in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah for the first time registered a record attendance from delegates from the global hospitality community. The 14th annual conference is underway at the purpose-built village on the beach of Waldorf Astoria in Ras Al Khaimah from April 17 - 19, 2018.
The conference, held in partnership with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Tourism (RAKTDA) was inaugurated by the rulers of RAK and UAE’s supreme council member, His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi who noted that the emirate has come a long way from being an agricultural town and has transformed into a thriving economy, and revealed plans to increase focus on the emirate’s hospitality sector.
“We aim to increase tourism’s GDP contribution to 10% by 2025. Already, the sector has been growing at a rate of about 19% year-on-year. We aim to have 1 million visitors by the end of this year in Ras Al Khaimah and we have a target of 2.9 million per year by 2025,” he commented.
RAKTDA CEO Haitham Mattar, in his welcome remarks at AHIC also noted to RAK’s hospitality sector’s uptick in performance in the first quarter for the year compared to 2017.
In 2017, Ras Al Khaimah saw an average year-round occupancy of 7%, an average length of stay of 3.4 days and total revenues showing double digit growth year-on-year, with visitor satisfaction at 90%. In its Q1 2018 performance, Mattar revealed that RAK recorded its highest ever hotel occupancy in a quarter at 79.4%.
“These are all numbers I believe all point to an extremely bright future for the industry here in Ras Al Khaimah” said Mattar.