Middle East hotel occupancy jumped 13.1 percent in January to 60 percent, a survey on global hotel performance said Monday.
Revenue per available room (RevPAR) - a benchmark that reflects the industry's fiscal health - reached $127 per night, trailed by $65 in Europe, $90 in Asia-Pacific and $48 in the Americas.
Hospitality in the Gulf has been seeing steady gains throughout 2010 after a dismal two-year recovery from the global recession. Locally, events like Abu Dhabi's rotating concert roster and Dubai's multitude of conferences have helped rebuild tourism.
The hotel boom is expanding Last month. Abu Dhabi's occupancy was at 60.9 percent in January, up from 50.2 percent in 2010. Due to a glut from new properties such as Yas Island's Yas Hotel, RevPAR was at $116, down from $141 in the same period a year earlier.
Occupancy in the capital was bolstered by the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, hosted by the emirate in January.
Dubai was up to 76.6 percent occupancy, a jump of 7.6 percent, which was regarded as "a huge achievement in the face of increased supply."
Unlike neighbouring Abu Dhabi, RevPAR increased by 2.8 percent. Events including shopping festivals "are ensuring that additional room stock is absorbed," the report said.
Elsewhere in the GCC, Muscat - which is aiming to become a major tourist destination - took a step in that direction, climbing 17.3 percent to 60.9 percent occupancy. Its RevPAR also soared, to $173, or 28.9 percent.
Political tension in Lebanon may have contributed to Beirut's decline. A major destination for tourists, its hotel occupancy slumped by over 10 percent in January.
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