Abu Dhabi has become less expensive for business travellers with hotel room rates in the capital dropping 26 per cent in the first half of 2010, show the findings of a new global hotel survey.
The UAE capital, which overtook New York and Paris in 2009 first half to become the second most expensive city in the world for business travellers, is now ranked eighth in the latest survey of 50 leading cities released on Thursday by Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), a global corporate travel services company.
While the international hotel industry has shown signs of recovery in the first half of 2010, the Middle East region recorded the highest rate decrease, with double digit falls in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, Khaleej Times reported on Friday.
Average hotel rates in Abu Dhabi fell by 25 per cent to Dh1,04.92 from Dh1,384.72 in local currency and 26 per cent in pound sterling, in sharp contrast to a 38 per cent growth in average rate recorded in the first half of 2009.
Abu Dhabi, the only top 10 city in 2009 first half to record any growth (five per cent), has seen a dramatic reversal with the highest average rate reduction.
Hotel rates in Dubai dropped 12 per cent to position it as the 19th most expensive city in the world.