Abu Dhabi's hospitality industry: November performance taking total arrivals to date over 2.5 million mark

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi's hospitality industry has hit the emirate's 2013 'hotel guest target' a month early with a notable November performance taking total arrivals to date over the 2.5 million mark. Figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) show that last month's arrivals at the emirate's 149 hotels and hotel apartments rose 26 percent year-on-year with some 260,810 guests checking in and delivering 856,785 hotel nights - a 27 percent uplift on November 2012. Occupancy levels for the month lifted 10 percent to 83 percent and total revenue rose 19 percent to Dh669 million (US$190.3 million). "This is great news which we were cautiously optimistic about, given that November was packed with events including the headline Grand Prix, the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, the FIFA Under 17's World Cup and Abu Dhabi Art," said Jasem Al Darmaki, Deputy Director-General, TCA Abu Dhabi. "It's all the more gratifying given that since last year, the emirate has seen 12 more properties and almost 2,500 new rooms come on line. "Length of stay - which is now touching 3.3 nights - continues its upward trend which suggests that people are increasingly convinced of there being ever more to do and see here." November's performance means that in the first nine months of this year, some 2,530,810 guests have stayed in Abu Dhabi's accommodation - which is a rise of 17 percent on the same period last year. Year-to-date, guest nights jumped 26 percent to over 7.9 million and average-length-of-stay has edged up 8 percent to 3.14 nights. Occupancy rate for the year to date is 70 percent - up 9 percent on 2012. Total hotel revenues for the year to date is close to Dh 5 billion (US$1.4 billion) - up 11 percent on 2012, with F'&'B income representing close to Dh1.9 billion (US$517.2 million), which has climbed 19 percent. Average room rate is now running at Dh477.22 (US$122) - which is a slight dip of 1 percent on the year. Domestic tourism is on an upward curve - jumping 6 percent in terms of guest arrivals to 865,966, yet 30 percent in guest nights to over 2 million and 23 percent in length-of-stay to 2.31 nights. "This is heading in the right direction. More people from within the UAE are choosing to stay in Abu Dhabi and for longer," said Al Darmaki. "There is a way to go, but with more events and more product coming to market soon, we have a chance to build this further." India remains the top overseas source market for 2013, with 157,594 Indians checking into Abu Dhabi's accommodation this year - a 26 percent increase on 2012. They delivered 620,641 room nights - up by a quarter year-on-year, and stay, on average, 3.94 nights. The UK delivered 147,852 guest arrivals for the year to take second place with a 14 percent uplift. British arrivals accounted for 690,902 guest nights - which is up 24 percent, and they stayed on average for 4.67 nights - an increase of 8 percent. Germany came in third place in the overseas guest rankings with 107,264 arrivals - a rise of 25 percent, translating to 521,293 guest nights - which is up 34 percent and staying, on average, 4.86 nights, which is up 6 percent. "As we enter December and look forward to significant returns from the festive and international holiday season, we can begin the New Year with a sense of satisfaction from targets achieved," said Al Darmaki. "And with more air access uplift promised in 2014, with Etihad Airways planning daily flights from Rome, Zurich, Perth, Medina, Los Angeles and Jaipur, four weekly flights from Yerevan in Armenia and a thrice-weekly flight from Dallas Fort Worth, new business opportunities abound." - Emirates News Agency, WAM