Figures just released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority have revealed Abu Dhabi’s 141 hotels and hotel apartments have turned in a promising quarter one performance with across the board growth in guest numbers, guest nights, average length of stay and revenues.

During the first three months of 2013 some 631,417 guests checked into accommodation throughout the emirate - a six per cent rise on quarter one 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 on 2012.

The UK maintained its position as the emirate’s leading overseas guest source market delivering in quarter one some 39,841 arrivals, up seven per cent on quarter one 2012, a total of 186,882 guest nights, an increase of 17 per cent and an average length of stay of 4.69 nights, up nine per cent on the comparative period.

The quarter one results were aided by a healthy March performance when guest arrivals rose nine per cent on the same month in 2012 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, 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 and bringing an additional 706 rooms online.

Major events also helped drive March’s performance with the emirate hosting Abu Dhabi International Triathlon, Abu Dhabi Festival, Abu Dhabi Air Expo and Qasr al Hosn Festival as well as welcoming performances from Sting, Andrea Boccelli and Guns N Roses.