Abu Dhabi hotels report rising guest numbers

October proved to be a good month for Abu Dhabi hotels which reported rising guest numbers, a trend also reflected in the numbers for the first 10 months of 2010.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emitrates - A view of Yas Island hotels from the waterway around Yas Marina & Yacht Club. ( DELORES JOHNSON / The National )

The number of guests staying in Abu Dhabi increased by 16 per cent in the first 10 months of the year compared to the same period in 2009, according to figures released today.

But with more hotels in the capital, there is pressure on occupancy levels and revenues, the emirate's tourism authority says.

The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) said the emirate is certain to achieve, and even surpass, its target for the year of 1.65 million hotel guests, up from 1.54 million last year.

A total of 1,477,978 guests stayed in Abu Dhabi's 118 hotels and hotel apartments in the first 10 months of the year, the ADTA said.

"Increased accommodation stock throughout Abu Dhabi impacted occupancy and revenue levels which slipped by 16 per cent year-on-year to 63 per cent and five per cent to Dh3.2 billion ($888m) respectively," according to the ADTA.

During October, there was an 18 per cent year-on-year increase in guest numbers to 151,335 and a four per cent rise in their average length of stay to 3.3 nights.

"We anticipate November's performance will be equally impressive with the emirate having hosted a number of key trade exhibitions and, of course, the 2010 Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix," said Lawrence Franklin, the strategy and policy director at ADTA.

"Add to this the recent opening of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and the arrival of the Yas Island Show Weekends which the hotels on Yas Island are supporting with extremely attractive deals and our annual target is well within our sights."

The UK is the top performing international market with an 18 per cent increase to 420,204 guest nights, the ADTA said.