The recovery in Qatar’s hospitality sector has gained further momentum as the occupancy rate in hotels in the country has risen sharply in February.
The recovery is not only solid but also widespread as hotels of all categories, ranging from Five-star to smaller hotels, have seen surge in occupancy rates and revenue per available room.
The occupancy rate of Five-star hotels has jumped to 62 percent in February 2021 from 51 percent in January this year, according to the latest report by the Planning and Statistics Authority.
The Four-star hotels have also observed the similar trend as the occupancy rate for these hotels has increased to 68 percent in February from 59 percent in January this year. The rise has also been witnessed on year-on-year basis as the occupancy rate was 67 percent in February in 2020.
Similarly, the occupancy rate for Three-star hotels has increased to 82 percent in February from 70 percent in January this year. The biggest monthly surge has been witnessed by One and Two-star hotels as the occupancy rate for these hotels has jumped to 81 percent in February from 38 percent in January this year.
Along with occupancy rate, hotels have also seen increase in Revenue Per Available Room. Improvement in Revenue Per Available Room is a positive signal for hotel industry as it measures a hotel’s ability to sell its available rooms at a certain average rate.
Revenue Per Available Room for Five-star hotels increased to QR321 in February from QR264 in January while for Four-star hotels, it increased to QR152 from QR128 in January. For Three-star hotels this revenue has increased to QR150 in February from QR115 in January.The rise in the occupancy rate and Revenue Per Available Room in hotels is the result of measures taken by the government, initiatives by hotels and increase in economic activity in the country.
Hotels in the country have taken several measures in the past to attract guests. As the restrictions imposed to curb COVID-19 pandemic forced citizens and expatriates to cancel their travel plans, hotels across the country launched staycation offers to attract them.
Staycation, a term coined by merging ‘stay’ and ‘vacation’, refers to a vacation spent in home country rather than abroad. Along with revitalising the guests, these staycations boosted domestic tourism and stimulated the economy.
Staycation offers varied from hotels to hotels but generally included up to 50 percent discount on rooms and include breakfast, discount on food and beverages, early check-in and late check-out, access to swimming pools, and many other such benefits. Safety of guests became a prime focus for hotels amid the outbreak of COVID-19. Hotels have applied the highest possible safety standards to make stay safe for guests.
