The green shoots of recovery in the hospitality sector have started to become visible, helped by restart of air travel and pick-up in economic activities. Recent data have showed that the occupancy rate in the hotels is increasing consistently.
According to the Planning and Statistics Authority data, the occupancy rate in Five-star hotels has increased to 49 percent in November last year from 48 percent in July 2020. Similarly, the occupancy rate in Four-star hotels has improved to 58 percent in November from 56 percent in July.
One and two-star hotels have been the biggest gainers in terms of occupancy ratio. The occupancy ratio for this category of hotels has jumped from 40 percent in July to 59 percent in November. One of the main factors that have helped increase the occupancy ratio is the decline in room rates, making stay cheaper for the visitors. The average room rate for Five-star hotels decrease from QR541 in August to QR535 in November while in case of Four-star hotels it remained stable at QR217 during August-November period.
The average room rate for One and two-star hotels declined significantly from QR140 in August to QR136 in November.
Hotels in the country also took several measures 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 exciting 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.
Hotels have also benefitted from the easing of COVID-19 related restrictions and restart of air travel. Many hotels have seen travelers booking hotel rooms to meet the quarantine related norms.
