Hotels in Abu Dhabi see boom during F1 Grand Prix
Hotel occupancy in Abu Dhabi during the Etihad Airways Formula 1 Grand Prix improved when compared to last year, according to the latest statistics from STP Global.
However, figures remained below peaks reached during the inaugural 2009 event – despite performances from artists as diverse as Britney Spears and Paul McCartney during a spectacular weekend of entertainment.
Historically, hotel performance in cities hosting a Grand Prix experience a strong pick up in hotel occupancy starting the nights preceding the qualification tours and continuously growing until the Saturday night.
Unlike other cities, the Abu Dhabi hotel market has experienced important changes, particularly with additional new hotel supply closer to the race track on Yas Island, since the initial race in 2009.
As a result, average daily rate is tracking lower than previous race weekends in 2009 and 2010.
Abu Dhabi hotel occupancy achieved a low 84.9 per cent on Friday night compared to 92 per cent during the first race in 2009.
However, both Saturday and Sunday nights achieved a strong recovery with occupancy levels reaching 94.3 and 92 percent, respectively.
Despite a continuous growth in hotel demand, the new hotel supply has kept average daily rate (ADR) below the previous year, starting on Friday night at AED1605.22 before reaching AED1754.14 on Saturday.
Saturday night recorded the highest demand for the weekend.
“Since the introduction of the Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi in 2009, the census data from STR Global, tracking the city-wide hotel inventory, has indicated that hotel supply grew by 16 percent to 15,115 daily rooms,” commented Konstanze Auernheimer, director of marketing and analysis.
“With additional hotels expected to enter the market in the near future, it will likely remain a competitive market environment for hoteliers.
“However, the Grand Prix provides a unique exposure of the Emirate to a global audience and hoteliers should see long-term benefits from the attention given to the Formula One race.”