Dubai hotels show highest occupancy in a year this month

Hotels in Dubai experienced their highest levels of occupancy for over a year this February and forward bookings for the next month indicate more positive figures, leaders in the sector told Emirates Business.

A weekly industry report, used as comparative analysis by 18 leading hotels, revealed occupancies between 95 and 100 per cent for the week February 14 to 20. Hotels covered include Shangri La, Emirates Towers, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah, Grosvenor House, Raffles and Kempinski Hotel.

Regional holidays, the ongoing Dubai Shopping Festival and exhibitions such as Gulfood helped spike occupancies this month. Top hotel managers said the biggest push came from an international advertising campaign Dubai launched during the last quarter of 2009.

Yields, however, remain depressed ranging between three and 20 per cent down, depending on hotel category.

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