The number of guests staying in Abu Dhabi’s hotels and hotel apartments dipped five per cent during August when compared to last year, according to figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.

However, the number of guest nights increased 14 per cent, with the destination on course to reach its stretch target of two million hotel guests in 2011.

ADTA says the slight fall off in guest numbers could largely be attributed to Ramadan when many domestic and regional visitors who would normally be in the emirate chose to remain at home to celebrate the Holy Month with their families.

In all some 116,492 guests stayed in Abu Dhabi’s hotels during August accounting for 407,766 guest nights.

The overall increase in guest nights is strongly influenced by the number of longer staying guests in hotel apartments and also impacted the average-length-of-stay, which was up by 20 per cent.

Some of the performance in this accommodation type can also be attributed to temporary relocations deriving from unrest in some Middle East countries said ADTA’s Strategy and policy director, Lawrence Franklin.

Comparative month-on-month hotel revenue remained static though income from food & beverage activities rose nine per cent in August with many guests taking advantage of Ramadan Tents and special Iftar meal offers.

Hotel occupancy for August rose two on August 2010 largely attributable to six per cent rise in hotel apartment occupancy with hotels achieving only a one per cent increase in occupancy. 

Comparative month-on-month room rates dipped 15 per cent.

Despite the dip in guest numbers =96 which ended Abu Dhabi’s run of double-digit hotel guest growth for 12 consecutive months the destination remains ahead of the curve achieving a 13 per cent increase in guest numbers in the first eight months of this year compared to the same period last year.

Year-to-date, some 1,347,782 guest have stayed in Abu Dhabi’s hotels and hotel apartments leaving the destination on a solid course to reach its stretch target of two million hotel guests in 2011.

The number of guest nights over the year-to-date comparison period is up 25 per cent to over four million with the average length-of-stay rising 12 per cent to 2.98 nights.

Year-to-date occupancy is up nine per cent to 67 per cent.

Total revenue is up five per cent to AED2.7 billion (US$749 million) while room revenue has climbed for per cent to AED 1.4 billion (US $393 million).

ADTA was last year recognised as the World’s Leading Tourist Board by the prestigious World Travel Awards.