Hotel occupancy up

Revenue per room at $140 in first quarter of 2012

The average occupancy rate at hotels in Beirut was 66 percent in the first quarter of 2012, according to Ernst & Young's survey of the Middle East hotel sector. Hotel occupancy averaged 47 percent in the first quarter of 2011.

The occupancy rate at Beirut hotels was the 11th highest rate among 21 cities in the region.

The average rate per room was around $210 in the first quarter of 2012, up by 1.7 percent from a year ago. The regional average rate per room was $189, down by 2.4 percent from last year. 

Revenues per available room (RevPAR) were $140 in Beirut, posting a significant 44 percent increase from the same period last year. 

The average RevPAR across the region was $134.9 in the first quarter of 2012. RevPAR represents the total accommodation revenues collected by the hotel divided by the total number of rooms in it.

Ernst & Young’s benchmark survey covers international branded and operated hotels across the five-star and four-star segment.

Reported by Hanadi Chami