Rotana is piloting a direct distribution agreement with Airbnb in Dubai, Guy Hutchinson, acting CEO, Rotana, revealed at a roundtable held in Abu Dhabi on March 12, 2019. Figures released during the event also showed positive results across three key performance metrics in the first two months of 2019.

 

Speaking about the Airbnb pilot scheme, Hutchinson, who did not provide details about the number of properties to be included in the pilot project, said: "This is the first time in the UAE a hotelier has entered into an agreement with the online marketplace and hospitality service listings company."

Hotelier previously reported that Dubai's Airbnb market is worth over US$101 million. The figures were released in a report focusing on the growth of Airbnb in Dubai by real estate services firm Chestertons MENA. The findings showed that 2018 saw a year-on-year increase of 69% in market revenues with the Airbnb market now generating more than $101 million in the emirate.

Across the board growth
Hutchinson also revealed that during the January-February period of 2019, Rotana hotels in Abu Dhabi delivered stronger growth as compared to properties in other emirates. The findings recorded a 3.5% growth in occupancy, 2.3% increase in ADR and 5.9% rise in RevPAR.

Rotana properties in Beirut and Riyadh posted 17% and 15% rise in occupancy and 29% and 48% surge in RevPAR respectively, as compared to the same period in 2018. Similarly, ADR and RevPAR soared 24.8% and 9.8% in the company’s resort in Sharm El Sheikh, while Manama saw a 5% rise in occupancy rates.

“Most of our markets in the region posted firm growth in occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR. This is mainly due to our relentless focus on improving product offering, expanding portfolio and enhancing commercial efforts,” Hutchinson said.

Figures posted showed that room nights coming from Saudi Arabia, which, according to a statement, is one of the key feeder markets, have increased by 15% in the first two months of this year. In 2018, the UAE, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and India topped the list of leading feeder markets.

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