Abu Dhabi has seen double-digit growth in hotel guests and guest nights in the first quarter of 2012, with the UK remaining Abu Dhabi’s top performing hotel guest source market.

Between January and March some 37,095 British people stayed in the emirate’s hotels, translating into 159,216 guest nights.

Figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority show that 594,918 guests stayed in the emirate’s 130 hotels and hotel apartments during the first quarter of 2012 - a 17% increase on Q1 2011. Guest nights rose 10% year-on-year to reach 1.725 million.

The average length of stay for all visitors to Abu Dhabi during the first three months of 2012 slipped slightly, dropping 5% to 2.90.

“Our focus is now to convince people that there is so much more to see and do in Abu Dhabi that they should extend their stay,” said His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority. “We are working hard on a trade engagement policy to improve distribution and dissemination of this message.”

Overall hotel revenues rose 1% to GBP 224.47 million (AED1.2 billion), with the average room rate coming in at GBP 84.4 (AED500).

The news has come on the back of a major triumph for the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, which was named Middle East’s Leading Beach Destination, Middle East’s Leading Marketing Campaign and Middle East’s Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards  last night, during the Middle Eastern leg of the regional World Travel Awards tour.