STR Global increases Russian reach

STR Global, the leading provider of market data to the world's hotel industry, is pleased to announce the introduction of Yekaterinburg to their coverage of the Russian hotel market alongside Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Situated in central Russia to the east of the Ural Mountains, Yekaterinburg is the fourth largest city in the country and a centre for heavy industry. The sample of hotels confidentially providing performance data to STR Global includes several local brands together with hotels from Hyatt Regency, Ramada, Park Inn by Radisson, Novotel and Angelo Hotel.

All three Russian cities STR Global covers have seen a good start to 2011, reporting year-on-year growth in occupancy. The 44.1-percent increase for Yekaterinburg reflects a very low base year for comparison. Moscow and Yekaterinburg also recorded increases in average daily rate (ADR) whilst St. Petersburg saw a decline in ADR of 0.2 percent. This is due in part to increases in supply from five new hotels comprising 1,455 guestrooms that opened in market during 2010 as well as the recent openings of the W St. Petersburg (137 guestrooms) and Crowne Plaza St. Petersburg Ligovsky (195). The city's actual occupancy of 43.1 percent for the year-to-May 2011 reflects both this bump in supply as well as the seasonality of trade with the high tourist season of summer yet to come.

"We are pleased to welcome the hotels of Yekaterinburg to our coverage of the Russian market", said Elizabeth Randall, managing director of STR Global. "Our hotel performance data for this city reflects the ongoing commitment of STR Global to the expansion of our reach in all markets, established and emerging".

STR Global now has 84 participating hotels in Russia representing more than 22,200 guestrooms.