Abu Dhabi has recorded its most successful year ever in terms of hotel guest arrivals with well over 2.1 million people staying in the emirate’s hotels and hotel apartments. The number of Australian hotel guests staying in Abu Dhabi increased with a staggering 35 per cent.
Annual growth was recorded across a number of key metrics including: guest nights, which were up 22 per cent to 6.3 million; occupancy levels which rose 7 per cent to 69 per cent; revenue, which rose 3 per cent to AED 4.375 billion (US $ 1.2 billion) and length of stay which expanded 5 per cent to 2.97 nights.
“This is a highly encouraging result in a year which has seen substantial additions to our hotel and resort inventory, including several five-star beach properties opening up Saadiyat Island to guests,” said Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which released the figures.
Two beach front hotels have opened Saadiyat Island to guests including the Abu Dhabi Park Hyatt Hotel and Villas (pictured).
“There is a clear correlation between our highlighted focus on specific international markets, a vibrant calendar of world-class events, increased air access with the arrival into Abu Dhabi of new carriers and the expansion of Etihad Airways’ network and a substantial increase in cross-network marketing undertaken major new hospitality brands.
“It leaves us well placed to build for 2012 for which we had initially target 2.3 million but, in conjunction with stakeholders, will now reassess to see if this too, can be stretched.”
December delivered a bumper return for Abu Dhabi with some 207,723 guests checking into the emirate’s hotels – a 26 per cent rise on December 2010 and the highest achieving month of the year.
Abu Dhabi’s maturing golf product being realised through Golf In Abu Dhabi as UAE capital named Golf Destination Of The Year 2012 by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators.
“We attribute the strong December performance to people taking their seasonal festivity breaks in the emirate and staying for the lead up to the New Year’s celebrations,” said Mubarak Al Muhairi, director General, ADTA.
“We are also now working ever more closely with stakeholders to spur creative packaging of our products, including our events and to realize the potential held out by the UNESCO Heritage site listing of attractions in Al Ain.”
