25 December 2008
Hotels across the UAE will have an average occupancy rate of 80 per cent during the current holiday season, said industry sources, adding that properties in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah are expected to reach full occupancy.
The latest figures emerged as Emirates Business spoke to the managers of a wide range of hotels across the country.
"We are almost fully booked from Christmas Eve until the end of first week of January," said Toufic El Hajj, Sales Manager at Ras Al Khaimah's Al Hamra Hotels Management.
"Despite downturns in the economies of many countries from which we usually receive tourists we are set to achieve an overall average of 87 per cent for the year."
Patrick Antaki, General Manager of Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah, said: "We are witnessing a five per cent rise in occupancy, which stands at 87 per cent, compared with last year.
"But the majority of our visitors are tourists from outside the UAE, so due to the international financial situation we have to be realistic about what we can expect in 2009. We are prepared for a 15 per cent decline in the number of guests."
Hosni Hadi, General Manager of Dubai's Carlton Tower Hotel, said: "We cannot ignore the fact that current hotel occupancy rates indicate a decline in the number of visitors in the fourth quarter. However for the current holiday season we are fully booked from December 26 until January 10.
"Taking into consideration the world financial situation in the past three months the average overall occupancy rate for our hotel will be 78 per cent, 10 per cent less than last year," said Hadi.
"If conditions remain the same in 2009 achieving 70 per cent occupancy rate would be fairly good.
"Reducing room rates by 20 to 30 per cent, offering promotions and maintaining our service quality levels will be our strategy for 2009."
Reema Baroudi, Director of Public Relations at the InterContinental Hotel Abu Dhabi, said: "Our room occupancy rate for the holiday season is 70 per cent for now and we expect it to rise since visitors from other emirates and the region often make last-minute reservations."
And Moine Kandil, General Manager of the Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi, said: "We have had an average occupancy rate of 85 per cent in 2008, which is five per cent higher than last year, and we expect at least the same in the coming year."
Hotels across the UAE will have an average occupancy rate of 80 per cent during the current holiday season, said industry sources, adding that properties in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah are expected to reach full occupancy.
The latest figures emerged as Emirates Business spoke to the managers of a wide range of hotels across the country.
"We are almost fully booked from Christmas Eve until the end of first week of January," said Toufic El Hajj, Sales Manager at Ras Al Khaimah's Al Hamra Hotels Management.
"Despite downturns in the economies of many countries from which we usually receive tourists we are set to achieve an overall average of 87 per cent for the year."
Patrick Antaki, General Manager of Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah, said: "We are witnessing a five per cent rise in occupancy, which stands at 87 per cent, compared with last year.
"But the majority of our visitors are tourists from outside the UAE, so due to the international financial situation we have to be realistic about what we can expect in 2009. We are prepared for a 15 per cent decline in the number of guests."
Hosni Hadi, General Manager of Dubai's Carlton Tower Hotel, said: "We cannot ignore the fact that current hotel occupancy rates indicate a decline in the number of visitors in the fourth quarter. However for the current holiday season we are fully booked from December 26 until January 10.
"Taking into consideration the world financial situation in the past three months the average overall occupancy rate for our hotel will be 78 per cent, 10 per cent less than last year," said Hadi.
"If conditions remain the same in 2009 achieving 70 per cent occupancy rate would be fairly good.
"Reducing room rates by 20 to 30 per cent, offering promotions and maintaining our service quality levels will be our strategy for 2009."
Reema Baroudi, Director of Public Relations at the InterContinental Hotel Abu Dhabi, said: "Our room occupancy rate for the holiday season is 70 per cent for now and we expect it to rise since visitors from other emirates and the region often make last-minute reservations."
And Moine Kandil, General Manager of the Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi, said: "We have had an average occupancy rate of 85 per cent in 2008, which is five per cent higher than last year, and we expect at least the same in the coming year."
By Rami Eljundi
© Emirates Business 24/7 2008
