The hotel market in Dubai is witnessing an active tourism season in the fourth quarter of this year, with tourism inflows increasing and occupancy rates rising to around 90%, despite the noticeable growth in the new hotel supply that has recently entered service.
They told Emirates Today that as Expo 2020 Dubai is approaching, hotels are starting to receive bookings by participants at the upcoming event, noting that hotel room rates for medium hotels and apartments are still at the same levels compared to the same period of the year. Last, for a limited decline in luxury room rates.
Product diversification
Sam Al Asmar, Vice President of Revenue at Rotana Group, said that Dubai has become one of the most important tourist destinations in the region and the world due to its advanced tourism facilities and services and advanced infrastructure.
Al-Asmar added that the initiatives launched continuously and the diversification of the tourism product are reflected positively on the number of visitors, which is evident in the high occupancy rates of Rotana hotels in the country, which is expected to reach 88% during the last quarter of this year. A high percentage considering the number of new hotels opened in 2019.
He pointed out that as the Expo 2020 Dubai approached, the group began to receive bookings in its hotels for next year from the participants. In support of this, Rotana is working to start marketing for its hotels during the period of the exhibition in a number of international forums, through its offices spread around the world. .
Improvement
Kamal Nomani, General Manager of Hospitality and Leisure Projects at Al Habtoor Hospitality, said that occupancy rates on average for beach hotels and city hotels are expected to reach around 80% during the fourth quarter of this year. In terms of tourism flow during the current quarter, compared to the same period last year.
Noamani added that the average prices of hotel rooms recorded a decline in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to the same period in 2018, due to the increase in hotel supply, which entered the market during the last period.
High rates
Time Hotels Group CEO Mohamed Awadallah said that occupancy rates now stand at around 90% and are considered high, pointing out that the local hotel market is witnessing an active tourism season during the last quarter of this year.
Awadallah added that the flow of tourism from the markets of China, India and the Philippines, as well as the German market, has been on the rise in recent times, pointing out that emerging markets are also playing a significant role in the movement of tourism coming to Dubai.
He pointed out that the prices of hotel rooms for medium-sized hotels and apartments are still at the same levels now, compared to the same period last year, against a limited decline in the prices of luxury rooms, due to the great hotel offers witnessed in this category during the last period.
Entertainment and business
Walid Al Awa, General Manager of Tamani Marina Hotel, said the level of bookings indicates an active tourism season in Dubai during the last quarter of this year, pointing out that the upcoming tourist traffic to the emirate is a mix between entertainment and business.
He stressed that the emirate continues to record growth rates in the flow of tourism and from various markets.
Awa added: `` We expect occupancy levels to exceed the 85% barrier in the fourth quarter of 2019, which are good indicators given the new hotel supply, which entered the market during the recent period. '' He pointed out that the decline in average hotel room prices created tourism from emerging markets. In Asia, such as Malaysia and South Korea.
Business tourism
Moussa Al-Hayek, Chief Operating Officer, Al Bustan Center & Residence, said: “We receive inquiries and bookings during the weekend from families for the holidays.
Hayek expected business performance to improve, as is the case with other tourism sectors, especially with the upcoming Expo 2020 Dubai.
He added: "We have developed a business plan in line with the strategy of the Tourism and Commerce Marketing Authority, to take advantage of the prosperity and growth that accompanies this major event, by providing luxury accommodation for business travelers and airport access services."
Al Hayek explained that occupancy rates currently range between 60 and 70%, which is a positive indicator of market performance, but we expect more than 80% occupancy for the rest of the season and growth in the business tourism sector.
Strategies
George Hawi, Director of Sales at Grand Millennium Hotel Dubai, said: “There is a strong demand from visitors and we are keen to maintain the required annual rates, while working on several strategies targeting different sectors.”
He expected an increase in demand from tourists from the Chinese and Indian markets, and expected to receive many business travelers during the current period.
“We aim to achieve a growth of 50% compared to the previous period of this year, and we are attracting many visitors to exhibitions and tourists during the end of the year,” Hawi added.
high demand
Manuel Garcia, Managing Director of Millennium Place Marina, said that since the opening of the hotel on May 1, the occupancy rate for this season has exceeded the 80% threshold. , As we look forward to receiving increasing numbers of visitors ».
Garcia expects occupancy to reach 90%, pointing out that the hotel has a good mix of all markets including CIS, GCC, Germany, UK, Latin America and others.