April 29, 2013--ABU DHABI -- Abu Dhabi's 141 hotels and hotel apartments have turned in a promising performance in the first quarter of 2013 with across-the-board growth in guest numbers, guest nights, average-length-of-stay and revenues

Some 631,417 guests checked into accommodation throughout the emirate during the first three months of this year .This is a 6 percent rise on Q1 2012, according to figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA).

Guest nights rose 23 percent to 2,119,016, the average-length-of-stay was up 16 percent to 3.36 nights and total revenues climbed 15 percent to AED 1.432 billion ($ 389.9 million) of which food and beverage income of AED 538.8 million ($ 146.7 million) represents a 12 percent increase on Q1 2012.

The Q1 results were aided by a healthy March performance when guest arrivals rose 9 percent on the same month last year to stand at 230,974 which translated into 761,834 guest nights -- a 26 percent month-on-month increase with total revenues climbing 18 percent to AED 502 million ($ 136.7 million), average-length-of-stay edging up 16 percent and occupancy rising 7 percent to 74 percent.

The results were also delivered against a background of rising room supply with four new hotel facilities -- two resorts, one in Abu Dhabi city another in Al Ain, and two hotel apartments in the UAE capital -- opening during Q1 bringing an additional 706 rooms online.

"We are starting to reap the benefits of our trade engagement program which began a year ago and in which 14 destination management companies have been represented, three of which are now opening offices in Abu Dhabi with a fourth expanding an existing office," said Mubarak Al -Muhairi, director-general, TCA Abu Dhabi.

"The program has enabled us to reach 4.4 million consumers through joint partner marketing promotions in Australia, UK, Germany and Russia while 27,850 travel agents and agencies have been engaged through promotions and educated on destination Abu Dhabi products," he said.

"With our trade engagement partners, we have staged 15 destination road-shows and presentations in India, Russia, Germany and the UK," said the official.

On the international front, the UK maintained its position as the emirate's leading overseas guests source market delivering in Q1 some 39,841 arrivals, which was up 7 percent on Q1 last year, a total of 186,882 guest nights, which was an increase of 17 percent and an average-length-of-stay of 4.69 nights, which was up 9 percent on the comparative period.

India was the Q1's second largest international source market delivering 36,157 guests -- a 7 percent increase on last year, 171,510 guest nights, which was up 52 percent and an average-length-of-stay of 4.74 nights -- a 33% year-on-year lift.

Germany came in third as the largest overseas source market with 31,700 Germans checking into Abu Dhabi's hotels and hotel apartments -- 14 percent more than last year, which translated into 150,727 guest nights -- 32 percent up on last year -- and they stayed longer averaging 4.75 nights, which was 16 percent lift.

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