Abu Dhabi’s hospitality industry has hit the emirate’s 2013 hotel guest target a month early with a notable November performance taking total arrivals to date over the 2.5 million mark.

Figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority show last month’s arrivals at the emirate’s 149 hotels and hotel apartments rose 26 per cent year-on-year with some 260,810 guests checking in and delivering 856,785 hotel nights – a 27 per cent uplift on November 2012.

Occupancy levels for the month lifted ten per cent to 83 per cent and total revenue lunged 19 per cent upwards to AED669 million.

“This is great news which we were cautiously optimistic about given November was packed with events including the headline Grand Prix, the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, the FIFA Under 17 World Cup and Abu Dhabi Art,” said HE Jasem Al Darmaki, deputy director general, TCA Abu Dhabi.

“It’s all the more gratifying given that since last year the emirate has seen 12 more properties and almost 2,500 new rooms come on line.

“Length of stay – which is now touching 3.3 nights – continues its upward trend which suggests people are increasingly convinced of there being ever more to do and see here.”

November’s performance means that in the first nine months of this year, some 2,530,810 guests have stayed in Abu Dhabi’s accommodation – which is a rise of 17 per cent on the same period last year.

Year-to-date, guest nights jumped 26 per cent to over 7.9 million and average-length-of-stay has edged up eight per cent to 3.14 nights.

Domestic tourism is on an upward curve – jumping six per cent in terms of guest arrivals to 865,966, yet 30 per cent in guest nights to over two million and 23 per cent in length-of-stay to 2.31 nights.

“This is heading in the right direction.

“More people from within the UAE are choosing to stay in Abu Dhabi and for longer!” added Al Darmaki.