Dubai's hotels generate Dh4.26 billion in first quarter

Dubai: Dubai's hotel sector has recorded a 22 per cent growth in their revenues reaching Dh4.261 billion during the first quarter of 2008, compared to Dh3.49 billion recorded during the corresponding quarter last year, Dubai's tourism regulatory body announced on Wednesday.

In the first quarter report on the Hotel Establishments' performance released on Wednesday, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) said the number of hotel and hotel apartment guests rose to 1.89 million in the first quarter this year compared to 1.76 million recorded in the corresponding quarter in 2007, showing an increase of seven per cent. It is the highest guest increase percentage in the world.

According to Khalid Bin Sulayem, director-general of DTCM, the number of guest nights during this period registered an increase of 10 per cent at 6,067,112 (6.067 million) from 5,505,630 (5.505 million) in the corresponding period in 2007.

Hotels registered 8.2 per cent increase in the number of guest nights whereas the number of guest nights in case of Hotel apartments recorded 17 per cent increase during the corresponding period.

The average number of operating hotel and hotel apartments showed 9 per cent increase during this period from 437 in the first quarter of 2007 to 475 this year.

Similarly the total rooms occupied showed 12 per cent increase at 31,450 over 28,203 recorded during the corresponding period last year.

The total hotel apartments available also indicated the upward trend at 12,046 showing an increase of 20 per cent during this period which were 10,080 last year.