Abu Dhabi hotels report biggest increase in guest arrivals

Abu Dhabi's 156 hotels and hotel apartments have reported that the period from January to September this year has been the most successful nine months so far in terms of guest arrivals, guest nights, occupancy and revenue.
Figures released yesterday by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, TCA Abu Dhabi, show that from the beginning of 2014 to September end, 2,498,672 guests checked into the emirate's accommodation, a 26 percent year-on-year increase.
The arrivals delivered 7,502,924 guest nights, which was up 21 percent on the same period last year with hotel occupancy rising 7 percent to 73 percent.
Hotel revenues climbed to Dh4.268 billion (US $1.16 billion), which is 15 percent growth on last year with room revenues reaching 16 percent to Dh2,170,548,482 (US$591 million) and food and beverage income rose 12 percent to Dh 1,626,203,483 (US$442.6 million).
"This is a very encouraging result, particularly when viewed in the context of there being eight more hotels than this time last year and over 2,000 more rooms. It leaves us extremely well placed to achieve our annual guest target of 3.1 million this year," said Jasem Al Darmaki, Acting Director-General, TCA Abu Dhabi.
"We will be promoting our three destination regions of Abu Dhabi city and environs, our heritage heartland of Al Ain and the Al Gharbia Western Region, in distinct areas of our international promotions from now on." "In this way," Al Darmaki said, "TCA hopes to deliver a message showing what each region has to offer, which is that Abu Dhabi is many destinations in one, and has a huge diversity of experiences for visitors
"We hope that we can encourage visitors arriving in the U.A.E. capital to get out and discover everything that the emirate has to offer, we are confident that they will be pleased, if somewhat surprised at how much there is to see and do," he added.