Dubai also witnessed a 10 per cent increase in the number of hotels and hotel apartments, which totalled 540 last year, compared with 493 the previous year. Similarly, the total number of hotel rooms and hotel flats went up by 22 per cent to reach 61,487 units in 2009 compared with 50,457 units in 2008.
In 2009, hotels guests numbered 6,105,813, while it was 1,477,266 guests for the hotel apartments. The total number of hotels now stands at 352, while 188 is the total number of hotel apartments. The hotel room inventory went up to 43,419 in 2009 compared with 37,261 in the previous year. Total hotel apartment flats stand at 18,068, up from 13,196 in the previous year.
The top three source markets for Dubai - the UK, India and Iran, meanwhile, accounted for 714,877, 529,536 and 476,120 guests respectively in 2009. Saudi Arabia stood at fourth position with 414,482 guests, while the US and German guests numbered 395,390 and 283,319, respectively. Among the top 20 source markets were Pakistan, Russia, Kuwait, Oman, Australia, France, Egypt, Italy, the Philippines, Canada, China, Qatar, Lebanon and Jordan, according to DTCM.
According to the latest global performance report released by the London-based STR Global, Dubai secured second position among the 15 markets reviewed in the average room rate category between January and October with $229 (Dh841). Paris topped the list with Tokyo, New York, Rome and London trailing behind Dubai.
As for the RevPAR, Dubai bagged third position globally with $155 during January-October 2009, next only to Paris and New York. Tokyo, London, Rome and Hong Kong were next to Dubai on the list.
