Friday, June 22, 2018

Dubai, Makkah, and Ras Al Khaimah were among the hotel markets in the Middle East to register occupancy growth when comparing the Ramadan 2018 period with the dates of Ramadan 2017, according to an analysis by STR.

Ras Al Khaimah posted overall performance growth in local currency with increase in revenue per available room (RevPAR) of 7.3%. Ras Al Khaimah was also the only market with significant growth in average daily rate (+6.9%). 

STR area director Middle East and Africa Philip Wooller said in a statement: "For a majority of hoteliers in the Middle East, the month of Ramadan is seen as a period of waning hotel performance. With the exception of the holy cities, demand for accommodation usually bottoms out compared with the rest of the year. That lack of demand extended to the aviation industry this Ramadan period with Emirates Airlines grounding 20 aircraft and British Airways cancelling its direct service between London and Abu Dhabi."

In absolute values, Makkah and Madinah once again reported the highest Ramadan occupancy levels at 74% and 73%, respectively. 

Wooller added that hotel performance during Ramadan 2018 mostly was a continuation of year-to-date trends for most of the destinations in STR's analysis. Highlights from the analysis included occupancy increase in Dubai despite the new hotel supply, and while hotels in Makkah also registered occupancy growth, that came at a cost with significantly lower room rates.

Source: http://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/33843-dubai-makkah-and-rak-show-ramadan-occupancy-growth/