Dubai: Hotel occupancy in the UAE hovered around 73 per cent last month — ahead of major European cities — bolstered by Dubai and Abu Dhabi's increase in visitors in the first quarter.
According to STR Global, occupancy figures in the UAE are down by one per cent while the average daily room rate dropped to Dh870 in March, compared to the same period last year.
Revenue per available room (RevPAR) was also down by around 9 per cent.
However, Dubai's performance records a plus in occupancies from 71 per cent to 79 per cent. This was achieved by lowering daily room rates to an average of around Dh900 or three per cent less than during the same period last year.
Dubai's RevPAR was up by 4.4 per cent, while DTCM's soon-to-be-released-figures are expected to reflect a good first quarter performance.
Slight growth
"Our sources tell us that performance is at or slightly better than 2009 levels, mainly sustained though GCC and group business," John Podaras. "I believe that STR have indicated slight growth in RevPAR over the first two months which seem to bear out these reports."
Fast facts
-21.8%: rise in passenger traffic
-27.2%: decrease in average daily room rate in Abu Dhabi
