Dubai hotels record 42 per cent growth in revenues in three quarters of 2004 as volume of business touches AED 4.38 billion

The volume of business done by the Dubai hotel industry in the first nine months of 2004 was AED 4.38 billion.

The fast-expanding industry remained upbeat with a spectacular 28.6 per cent increase in total guest nights, which stood at 11, 541, 417.

There was a 27.8 per cent increase in revenues in Q3 2004 compared with the corresponding period last year. The Q3 2004 revenues totaled AED 1,307,175,851 as against AED 1, 022, 984, 449 in the third quarter of 2003.

The number of guest nights in hotels and hotel apartments recorded a 14.5 per cent increase in the third quarter of 2004 compared with 3, 387, 866 guest nights generated during the same period in 2003.

Hotels and hotel apartments' room inventory went up by two per cent to reach 26,206 against 25, 683 in Q3 2003.

Beach properties were way ahead of the city-centre hotels in terms of occupancy levels, with a rate of 90 per cent in August 2004 as against 84.2 per cent during the same month last year. This is followed by 87.1 per cent in September 2004 compared with 76.6 per cent the same period last year.

The Director General of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, said: "The phenomenal growth of the emirate's tourism industry in general and hospitality sector in particular proves Dubai's popularity as an ideal year-round business and leisure destination."

He added: "This success demonstrates the inspiring public-private sector cooperation towards taking the growth levels to newer heights. Our aggressive promotional and marketing initiatives contributed enormously to achieve the growth objectives and in giving a boost to Dubai's image in overseas markets."

The July-September period witnessed hotel revenues going up by 29.1 per cent while the hotel apartments posted 18.8 per cent in their quarterly business volumes.

Hotel and hotel apartments in Dubai currently offer a total of 26, 206 rooms and 43, 134 beds. The Arabian Gulf's trade, tourism and technology hub has been posting impressive year-on-year growth, even in times of global uncertainties and negative trends.

The impressive growth being recorded by the hospitality industry year after year is the result of the department's pro-active policy of cooperation and support to the private sector.

Mr. bin Sulayem has been actively holding discussions with the key industry players to elicit their views and suggestions on a wide range of issues concerning the hotels and hotel apartments and ensuring that their businesses get benefited from the aggressive marketing and promotional agenda being pursued by the department.

The hotel room occupancy rate during the third quarter of 2004 was 79.4 per cent. Room occupancy levels rose by 16.5 per cent and bed occupancy showed 22.2 per cent growth during the January-September period.