Doha hotels top occupancy rates in Middle East

Doha Hotels bucked the trend in the Middle East by posting a 9.5 percent occupancy rate rise in July, according to new data provided by STR Global. Doha was the only city in the Middle East to post positive occupancy figures last month as the region saw rates slump by 13.5 percent. In Doha, occupancy rates at hotels rose to 48.2 percent, STR Global said adding that the only other cities registering growth in the Middle East and Africa was Nairobi in Kenya. Doha was one of only two Middle East cities to register growth in revenue per available room (RevPAR) during July. RevPAR in hotels in Doha rose 2.5 percent to $83.96, the STR Global figures showed. Qatar Tourism Authority had released figures showing that hotel occupancy rate rose from an average of 58% to 67%, despite there being a 4.5% increase in the number of rooms available. Total revenue in four and five-star hotels increased by QAR 155.9 million with a staggering 20%increase in revenue at five-star hotels alone. QTA Chairman Issa Mohammed Al-Mohannadi said the fact that the city of Doha topped the list of the Middle East and Africa reflected the success of QTA's strategy to develop the tourism sector. "We are seeing strong growth in all aspects of Qatar's tourism sector. Qatar Tourism Authority is proud of these developments and the strides being made towards a record year of tourism in Qatar. As tourism becomes increasingly important to diversifying the national economy we look positively on these developments." The total number of hotels under construction increased to 121 properties in the second quarter 2013 from 110 at the end of 2012; with a total 20,955 rooms to expected to be delivered.