STR global

The Middle East/Africa region reported mixed year-over-year results when reported in U.S. dollars for January 2009, according to data compiled from STR Global.

The region’s occupancy dropped 13.7 percent to 55.4 percent; ADR increased 6.9 percent to US$173.28; and RevPAR decreased 7.7 percent to US$95.98.

Highlights from key individual markets in the Middle East/Africa region include (percentages are January 2009 vs. January 2008):

  • Beirut, Lebanon, was the only market to report increases in all three key performance measurements, rising 24.1 percent in occupancy to 52.6 percent, 28.4 percent in ADR to US$168.94, and 59.5 percent in RevPAR to US$88.84.
  • Amman, Jordan, and Tel Aviv, Israel, reported decreases in occupancy of more than 20 percent, down 22.9 percent to 41.4 percent and 43.0 percent to 41.4 percent, respectively.
  • Markets reporting ADR increases of more than 25 percent include: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (+28.6 percent to US$360.78); Beirut (+28.4 percent to US$168.94); Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (+42.9 percent to US$177.85); and Muscat, Oman (+39.5 percent to US$330.43).
  • Three markets reported RevPAR increases of more than 20 percent: Beirut (+59.5 percent to $88.84); Jeddah (+35.2 percent to US$112.85); and Muscat (+24.3 percent to US$223.98).
  • The largest decreases in RevPAR were reported by Cape Town, South Africa (-35.3 percent to US$63.20) and Tel Aviv (-40.7 percent to US$76.69).

Performances of key countries in January (all monetary units in local currency):

Country Occupancy % change ADR % change RevPAR % change
Egypt 54.3% -22.0% EGP477.42 +15.4% EGP259.12 -10.0%
Israel 43.6% -30.3% ILS533.98 +17.2% ILS233.05 -18.3%
Saudi Arabia 49.5% -8.7% SAR723.90 +25.8% SAR358.06 +14.9%
South Africa 56.3% -10.3% ZAR824.33 +6.2% ZAR464.04 -4.7%
United Arab Emirates 68.3% -16.6% AED1122.52 -5.5% AED766.26 -21.2%

*percentages are increases/decreases for January 2009 vs. January 2008

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Konstanze Auernheimer (STR Global)
Director of Marketing
+44 (0)207 922 1961
STR Global