The Middle East/Africa region reported mostly negative performance results during November 2011 when reported in U.S. dollars, according to data compiled by STR.

The region ended the month with a 4.3% decrease in occupancy to 65.8 percent, a 3.5% rise in average daily rate to $184.24, and a 1.0% decrease in revenue per available room to $121.28.

“Due to the Arab Spring starting early this year across Northern Africa, the performances between Africa and the Middle East differ greatly,” said Elizabeth Randall, managing director of STR Global. “The month of November saw the continued trend of the past few months. Africa reported declining demand (-7%) and drops in occupancy, average rate and RevPAR. RevPAR only grew in January against the prior year. The Middle East, partly benefiting from the influx of visitors who diverted from Northern Africa, saw strong demand growth and reporting increases in the key indicators for November and year-to-date.”

Highlights among the region’s key markets for November include (year-over-year comparisons, all currency in U.S. dollars):
• Sandton, South Africa, and the surrounding areas rose 12.7% in occupancy to 66.7%, reporting the largest occupancy increase, followed by Cape Town, South Africa, with an 8.2% increase to 71.9%.
• Two markets reported double-digit occupancy decreases: Cairo, Egypt (-47.4% to 39.2%), and Muscat, Oman (-14.5% to 60.5%).
• Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (+11.7% to $285.07), and Dubai, United Arab Emirates (+11.3%to $279.06) posted the largest ADR increases.
• Sandton and the surrounding areas fell 16.6% in ADR to $116.24, experiencing the largest ADR decrease, followed by Cairo with a 14.4% decrease to $112.29.
• Two markets achieved double-digit RevPAR increases: Dubai (+19.5 percent to $243.56) and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (+14.3% to $161.49).
• Cairo fell 55.0% to $44.00, reporting the largest RevPAR decrease.