Concerted efforts in boosting Qatar’s hospitality industry’s performance have yielded positive results. Despite the unjust blockade, which has now entered into the 25th month, the revenues and occupancy rates of hotels continued to maintain its growth momentum in May 2019.
According to the latest edition of Qatar Monthly Statistics released by the Planning and Statistics Authority, the budget hotels (2&1-Star) have recorded the highest over 23 percent growth, with the average revenue (per available room) increasing to QR111 in May (year-to-date, YTD) from QR90 a year ago, official data show.
This was followed by the 3-Star category hotels. The average revenue of 3-Star hotels in May increased to QR136 (per available room) from QR123 in May 2018, recording a double-digit growth of 10.6 percent.
The average revenue of the hotel industry (per available room) across all categories inched-up by QR5, or 2 percent, to QR245 in May 2019 from QR240 a year ago. The revenue for 4-Star hotel rooms rose to QR155 in May from QR149 for the same month last year. The revenue of 5-Star hotel rooms has marginally declined to QR331 in May 2019 from QR338 in May 2018. This is the only category to see a decline in revenues, but it understandably helped boost their occupancy rate.
The overall performance of the hotel industry has recorded robust growth with the average occupancy rate soaring to 66 percent in May 2019 against 60 percent a year ago. When analyzed by category of properties, 2&1-Star hotels saw their occupancy rate rising to 76 percent in May (YTD) against 62 percent a year ago (up 8 percentage points). The 4-Star category hotels saw the highest increase in (up 10 percentage points, the highest among all categories of hotels).
Other categories of hotels also witnessed their occupancy rates soaring with varying degrees ranging between 4 percent and 7 percent.
In April 2019, the average hotel revenue per available room had increased to QR264 in April 2019 (year-to-date, YTD), up by 5.6 percent, or QR14 per room, compared to QR250 a year ago (April 2018).
The Peninsula
08/07/2019
