Abu Dhabi’s 141 hotels and hotel apartments have turned in a promising first quarter performance with across-the-board growth in guest numbers, guest nights, average-length-of-stay and revenues.

Figures just released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority show that during the first three months of this year some 631,417 guests checked into accommodation throughout the emirate – a six per cent rise on the same period of 2012.

Guest nights rose 23 per cent to 2,119,016, the average-length-of-stay was up 16 per cent to 3.36 nights and total revenues climbed 15 per cent to AED1.432 billion of which food & beverage income of AED538.8 million represents a 12 per cent increase on quarter one of 2012.

The results were aided by a healthy March performance when guest arrivals rose nine per cent on the same month last year to stand at 230,974 which translated into 761,834 guest nights – a 26 per cent month-on-month increase with total revenues climbing 18 per cent to AED502 million, average-length-of-stay edging up 16 per cent and occupancy rising seven per cent to 74 per cent.

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 quarter one bringing an additional 706 rooms online.

“The heightened competitiveness of the destination is winning additional major tour operators to our destination,” explained HE Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general, TCA Abu Dhabi.

“We are starting to reap the benefits of our trade engagement programme 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.”