Hotels in Middle East / Africa Report 5.1% Increase in RevPAR for May 2014

According to data compiled by STR Global, the Middle East/Africa region reported positive performance results during May 2014 when reported in U.S. dollars.

The region reported a 1.9% increase in occupancy to 63.5%, a 3.1% increase in ADR to US$154.14, and a 5.1% increase in RevPAR to US$97.94.

“Bahrain is currently showing the highest growth in terms of occupancy (+27.8%), though the country is coming from a low base in 2013,” said Elizabeth Winkle, managing director of STR Global. “Despite the double-digit growth rate, Bahrain’s occupancy is at 57.2%. Kuwait is leading the ADR increases in the region, as the country rose 12.8% to KWD72.18. Egypt is still seeing occupancy levels below 50.0%, while rate growth continues to be muted. Kenya also is reporting negative occupancy and RevPAR growth due to the recent events.”

“The Middle East has the fastest growing pipeline in the world, with 99,199 rooms Under Contract as of May,” Winkle added. “The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have emerged with two of the most robust pipelines in the Middle East, as these two countries combined make up 70.0% of the rooms in the region’s pipeline.”

Highlights among the Middle East/Africa region’s key markets for May 2014 include (year-on-year comparisons, all currency in U.S. dollars):

- Manama, Bahrain, rose 29.7% in occupancy to 56.9%, achieving the largest increase in that metric. Doha, Qatar, followed with a 13.0% increase to 75.8%.

- Lagos, Nigeria, fell 16.1% to 58.0% in occupancy, posting the largest decrease in that metric.

- Amman, Jordan, achieved the only double-digit ADR growth in May, up 13.8% to US$184.77.

- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, fell 6.1% in ADR to US$241.65, experiencing the largest decrease in that metric.

- Manama (+28.8% to US$112.86) and Amman (+21.1% to US$136.92) led the RevPAR increases.

- Lagos decreased 20.9% in RevPAR to US$150.74, reporting the largest decrease in that metric.