Abu Dhabi’s hospitality industry got off to a good 2013 start with official figures showing growth in all key performance indicators.

 

During January some 203,925 guests stayed in the emirate’s 137 hotels and hotel apartments – a 3 per cent rise on the same month in 2012, said the data released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).

 

The guests accounted for 680,737 guest nights – which was an increase of 19 per cent on the comparative month accounting for Dh427 million ($116.3 million) in revenues. 

Hotel occupancy in January increased by 5 per cent to 70 per cent with the average-length-of-stay expanding by 16 per cent to 3.34 nights.

 

“We are moving in the right direction with the average length of stay having crossed our targeted three nights mark,” said Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general, TCA Abu Dhabi. 

“With the late January opening of the Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi waterpark and Yas Beach, the impending opening of major new hotels and resorts and planned new air services from the US, Hong Kong, The Netherlands and Brazil, we are confident we can further expand the length-of-stay average.”

 

Major events helped drive January’s performance with the month seeing the emirate host its annual Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week including the World Future Energy Summit and a Yas Island concert by international rapper Kanye West.

 

The month also saw India overtake the UK for the first time as the destination’s premier hotel guest source market.

 

In January 12,623 Indian nationals stayed in the emirate’s hotels and hotel apartments – a 16 per cent rise on the same month last year pushing the UK into second place in terms of guest generation.

 

The Indian guests accounted for 57,327 guest nights – a 53 per cent rise on January 2012  - and racked up one of the longest length-of-stays at 4.54 nights.

 

“We are benefitting from the high frequency of air uplift from India with the country now served by 124 flights a week linking various cities with Abu Dhabi International Airport. We are also seeing the first fruits of our new on-the-ground promotional presence in the country, the feedback from the trade shows and road shows we staged in India last year and the trade engagement initiatives we have established ,” said Al Muhairi.

 

India remains in Abu Dhabi’s sights with TCA Abu Dhabi planning to host major trade and media familiarisation trips from the republic in the coming months, the launch of one-on-one training to provide destination knowledge for the Indian travel trade, participation in major travel shows in the country and the staging of a five-city road show taking in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bangalore and Madras.

 

“We are also working on packaging initiatives with the industry which will leverage our proximity to India, making Abu Dhabi a weekend break option, our family attractions, safety and diversity of offering,” said Al Muhairi.

 

However, Abu Dhabi’s average room rate fell by 10 per cent in January to Dh454 ($125).

 

The UK came in as the second largest source market for hotel guests delivering 12,218 guests during January – a fall of 6 per cent on January 2012. Germany came in third with 8,633 guests – again a 6 per cent dip on January 2012.

 

“While the number of guests from both the UK and Germany may have slipped – those who are coming are staying longer accounting for 57,273 and 42,494 guest nights respectively – corresponding rises of 6 per cent and 31 per cent,” said Al Muhairi. “We believe our strong messaging that there is much more to see and do in the destination is taking hold.” - TradeArabia News Service