Global Hotel Alliance, the world’s largest group of independent hotel brands, reported a 62 per cent increase in room revenue in the first quarter of 2022, on the back of higher spending and longer stays as the travel industry continues to recover from the coronavirus pandemic's impact.
The UAE and the Maldives sat at the top of the rankings during the first three months of the year, with GHA hotel brand properties in those markets commanding average room revenue per stay of $1,270 and $8,530, respectively, compared with the global average of $670, UAE-based GHA said on Tuesday.
“What is abundantly clear from the Q1 results is that travel is seeing an encouraging recovery,” said GHA chief executive Chris Hartley.
“Following two years of travel restrictions and uncertainty, pent-up demand for leisure travel has been unleashed and GHA hotel brands are benefitting from the rebound.”
Travel and tourism are starting to show signs of recovery from the coronavirus-induced slowdown, with many companies starting to ramp up their recruitment as countries reopen their borders.
However, high oil prices and the impact of the war in Ukraine are tempering the travel industry’s expected resurgence. Oil prices are hovering above $100 a barrel and are up by about 60 per cent from last year.
Hotels in the UAE hosted 19 million tourists in 2021, the Emirates Tourism Council said last month.
The country’s hotels hosted 29 per cent more visitors last year, compared with 2020, and generated Dh28 billion ($7.6bn) in revenue, a 70 per cent surge from the previous year, the council said.
Domestic tourists accounted for 58 per cent of the total number of guests.
Ten hotels out of the more than 500 included in GHA Discovery, the alliance's loyalty programme, accounted for a third of total room revenue in the first quarter.
Six of those 10 hotels were located in Dubai and the Maldives, with their room revenue accounting for 14.4 per cent and 8 per cent, respectively, of total GHA Discovery room revenue for the period.
UAE hotels opening in 2022 — in pictures
Overall, global room revenue in the three months to the end of March exceeded 60 per cent of levels achieved in 2019, before the onset of the pandemic, GHA said.
Meanwhile, total revenue (room and non-room) in the first quarter of this year increased by 76 per cent, in comparison with the corresponding period last year, driven by a 34 per cent and 32 per cent increase in room nights sold and average spend per night, respectively, GHA data showed.
Domestic stays during the first three months of the year rebounded to 2019 levels while international stays only reached 50 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
Higher demand for luxury leisure travel resulted in a surge in spending, with GHA Discovery hotels achieving average daily rates (ADRs) that were 78 per cent higher than in the first quarter of 2021 and 14 per cent higher than in the same period in 2019, the data revealed.
Cross-brand revenue — representing stays from members who enrol with one GHA brand and check in with another — was about 2.5 times higher in the first quarter of 2021, compared with the same period last year, GHA said.
At the best-performing hotels, the occupancy of cross-brand customers grew by 8 per cent.
The alliance’s global portfolio has grown to more than 40 brands, with about 800 properties in 100 countries.
South African hotel group Sun International, with 15 properties, joined GHA in December 2021 while the NH Hotel Group was integrated in June.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Brief scoreline:
Al Wahda 2
Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'
Al Nassr 3
Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'
Results
2.30pm: Park Avenue – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Rb Seqondtonone, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
3.05pm: Al Furjan – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bosphorus, Dane O’Neill, Bhupat Seemar
3.40pm: Mina – Rated Condition (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Royal Mews, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
4.15pm: Aliyah – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,900m; Winner: Ursa Minor, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash
4.50pm: Riviera Beach – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Woodditton, Saif Al Balushi, Ahmad bin Harmash
5.25pm: Riviera – Handicap (TB) Dh2,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Al Madhar, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Creek Views – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Al Salt, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
MATCH INFO
Group B
Bayern Munich v Tottenham, midnight (Thursday)
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ATP RANKINGS (NOVEMBER 4)
1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9,585 pts ( 1)
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 8,945 (-1)
3. Roger Federer (SUI) 6,190
4. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 5,705
5. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 5,025
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4,000 ( 1)
7. Alexander Zverev (GER) 2,945 (-1)
8. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 2,670 ( 1)
9. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,540 ( 1)
10. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2,530 ( 3)
11. David Goffin (BEL) 2,335 ( 3)
12. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2,290
13. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 2,180 (-2)
14. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2,125 ( 1)
15. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2,050 ( 13)
16. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 2,000
17. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 1,840 (-9)
18. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 1,775
19. John Isner (USA) 1,770 (-2)
20. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 1,747 ( 7)
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
MATCH INFO
Leeds United 0
Brighton 1 (Maupay 17')
Man of the match: Ben White (Brighton)
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Abu Dhabi Card
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,400m
National selection: AF Mohanak
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 1,400m
National selection: Jayide Al Boraq
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 100,000 1,400m
National selection: Rocket Power
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh 180,000 1,600m
National selection: Ihtesham
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 1,600m
National selection: Noof KB
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 2.200m
National selection: EL Faust
Tuesday results:
- Singapore bt Malaysia by 29 runs
- UAE bt Oman by 13 runs
- Hong Kong bt Nepal by 3 wickets
Final:
Thursday, UAE v Hong Kong
Results
2.15pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Hello, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihi (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Right Flank, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,000m
Winner: Leading Spirit, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 Dh575,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner: Ode To Autumn, Patrick Cosgrave, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh125,000 1,200m
Winner: Last Surprise, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,200m
Winner: Daltrey, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihi.
