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Dubai hotels excel in profit levels in the region in 2013
Dubai hotels excel in profit levels in the region in 2013 Issac John / 31 January 2014 The emirate plans to double its visitor numbers in seven years. Hotels in Dubai reported the highest profit levels in the region in 2013 for the fourth consecutive year, and ended the year with occupancy above 80 per cent as rates surged, according to the latest HotStats survey of full service four and five star hotels in five Mena markets by TRI Hospitality Consulting Middle East. Data shows that the hotel sector in Dubai and the UAE in general has been on an upswing. — Supplied photo In December, Dubai continued to record strong performance levels reflecting the continued growth experienced throughout the year. Although the market witnessed a 4.5 percentage points decline in occupancy to 79.5 per cent, a 9.1 per cent rise in Average Room Rates (ARR) to $368.22 drove Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) growth of 3.2 per cent to $292.70, the report said. Data compiled by STR Global also shows that hotel sector in Dubai and the UAE in general has been on an upswing. With Expo 2020 in the offing, Dubai plans to double its visitor numbers from 10 million to 20 million in seven years. Philip Wooller, area director of Middle East and Africa for STR Global, said it would be a fascinating journey for Dubai. Announcements will soon be released for all the new projects in the run up to the event, Wooller said. “The numbers alone suggest the hotel supply will need to nearly double from the existing 68,000 rooms to 120,000 rooms.” In December, the Middle East/Africa region reported positive results with a 3.0 per cent increase in occupancy to 59.5 per cent, a 4.2-per cent increase in average daily rate to $180.65 and a 7.3-per cent increase in revenue per available room to $107.44. According to HotStats, average rates and RevPAR for Dubai hotels in December exceeded levels witnessed throughout the year and helped push year to date figures up 6.5 per cent and 7.6 per cent, respectively. Bottom line performance levels in December were boosted by a 2.8 per cent rise in Total Revenue Per Available Room (TRevPAR), which was driven by increased MICE revenues and coupled with lower operating costs. Gross Operating Profit Per Available Room (GOPPAR) for the month increased 3.9 per cent to $260.00 and helped drive year to date figures up 10.3 percent to $206.05, the report said. Peter Goddard, Managing Director of TRI Hospitality Consulting, said occupancy levels in December 2013 were marginally lower than December 2012, which is attributed to an increase in supply compared to the same period last year; however average rates were maintained by the minimum stay agreements imposed by hotels during the festive season. “A combination of stable demand and increased confidence in the market resulted in hoteliers applying more aggressive yielding strategies which resulted in average rates rising 6.5 per cent to $324.44 in 2013,” said Goddard. Jeddah witnessed growth in all key performance indicators for the month of December as corporate demand surged in the city. The combined effects of a 5.2 percentage point rise in occupancy to 73.3 per cent coupled with a 1.9 per cent increase in ARR drove RevPAR up 9.7 per cent to $171.05 in Jeddah Doha hotels experience stronger demand, however rates and profits continue to fall. “Doha Hotels continued to struggle to elevate key performance indicators which remained under pressure during December, despite a 3.1 percentage point rise in occupancy to 63.3 per cent. On-going rate reductions resulting from high levels of competition fuelled a 20.8 per cent decline in ARR to $226.99 which in turn, drove RevPAR down 16.8 per cent to $143.71,” the report said. — issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Work starts on iconic Dh30 billion MBR City
Work starts on iconic Dh30 billion MBR City Issac John / 29 January 2014 Shaikh Mohammed inaugurates facilities at District One of the futuristic MBR City; 65% of land area to be made up of parks and waterways. Mohammed Bin Rashid (MBR) City, Dubai’s Dh30 billion iconic destination community project, marked the initial phase of its development on Tuesday with the formal opening of a Sales Studio and Model Villas. Shaikh Mohammed and senior officials at the launch of District One of the futuristic MBR City on Tuesday. — Wam His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the facilities at District One of the futuristic MBR City. Shaikh Mohammed unveiled commemorative plaque of the breathtaking urban, mixed-use, leisure and sports development which spans more than 54 million square feet of freehold land adjacent to Meydan City and four kilometres away from Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest structure. District One alone stretches across four million square feet of prime land. The lifestyle destination, comprising 1,500 luxury villas, leisure and retail attraction points, is jointly developed by Meydan Group and renowned India-based developer Sobha Group. Shaikh Mohammed viewed the mega model of the development at the Sales Studio where he was briefed by Saeed Humaid Al Tayer, Meydan Group Chairman and CEO about the mega project set for completion by 2018-2019. Al Tayer said the integrated cityscape of upscale residential communities would feature open and green space of city parkland, waterways, woodlands, water park, the largest crystal lagoon body of water in the world with 7km of stunning lagoons and 14km man-made beaches, alongside retail zones, leisure and sports attractions. Al Tayer said this unique green heart for Dubai would be surrounded by 1,500 premium luxury villas — to be delivered in four phases before Dubai Expo 2020 — “creating without question one of the lowest-density residential environments in any major international city”. Sobha Group’s Chairman PNC Menon said each of the four phases would deliver 375 villas. The first phase will feature a water lagoon and park beside the show village featuring model villas that will serve as a prototype for the residential area. About 65 per cent of the project’s land area will be made up of parks and waterways to give the project a spectacular appeal. Sobha Group, which has been developing and constructing lifestyle destinations, together with Meydan, aims to develop MBR City — District One, into one of the world’s prime residential locations. The project promises to deliver a new, vibrant ‘green’ heart for Dubai, said Menon. After the inauguration of the sales centre, Shaikh Mohammed toured the development and viewed designs of modern Arabic, Mediterranean, contemporary types of four to eight bedroom villas. Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates airline and Group, and a number of senior officials, heads of Dubai government departments and members of Sobha team headed by Menon. issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Chopper drones with cams may pose threat to privacy
Chopper drones with cams may pose threat to privacy Staff Reporter / 29 January 2014 The Ministry of Interior is concerned about its use and the Consumer Protection Department will investigate sales of these machines at some shops in the country. It may be a sport for some, a professional tool for photography experts, but the miniature RC (radio-controlled) quadcopter can be a threat to privacy if fitted with a camera. The Ministry of Interior is concerned about its use and the Consumer Protection Department will investigate sales of these machines at some shops in the country. The Arabic daily Al Roeya reported that the ministry convened a meeting with the bodies concerned in order to set down regulations for selling and trading in such drones fitted with cameras that could be controlled by remote control through a cordless joystick or a smart phone. The Ministry of Economy confirmed that its inspection and control squads embarked on their visits to shops and markets that deal in such kind of quadcopters to stop their sale. Al Roeya quoted Lt-General Saif Abdullah Al Shafaar, Undersecretary of Ministry of Interior, as saying that these pilotless rotorcrafts, which are sometimes fitted with a high definition camera, are sold without any constraints in the US and Europe, and are promoted online as well. Al Shafaar affirmed that the Federal Aviation Authority is the body concerned in this regard. He called upon all concerned parties and security authorities to hold a meeting to lay down regulations on this issue. Al Shafaar went on to say that police could intervene and take action if it received complaints from citizens and residents. Meanwhile, Director of the Consumer Protection Department, Ministry of Economy Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi warned the community members against the hazards of using copters that carry an HD camera which could be guided and controlled from remote distance. He pointed out that the Consumer Protection Department has planned to dispatch its inspection teams to shops and markets famous for selling these RC drones in order to stave off selling them to the public due to the negative effects these drones have because of the HD camera they are fitted with. Radio-controlled four rotor copters using high definition (HD) camera can click pictures during the time it’s in the air The RC quadcopter can fly for a period of 25 minutes and a distance of one kilometre at an altitude of 300 metres. The most shocking thing is that this kind of RC chopper was found being sold at a shopping mall in Dubai. They can be used by amateurs in a rational way by taking photos from high altitudes, and can be flown at desert, open areas, and sea. However, some others might use such adult toys in an immoral manner, which has become a hobby for those intruders to infringe people decency and privacy. There are two kinds of RC quadrotor helicopters. The first one is unprofessional and is sold for Dh4,800 and can fly for 15 minutes covering a distance of 700 metres. The second one is a professional one which costs as much as Dh8,000. The latter can fly a distance of a kilometre for a period of 25 minutes. The RC quadcopter has Global Positioning System (GPS), which makes it easy to call the chopper home automatically when the battery runs out. A user can programme and preset the flight course back and forth in certain directions, and sets the HD camera either in photo or video modes. It can transmit photos and videos to a user’s smart phone. An RC chopper owner Mohamed said he uses his copter everywhere to record horse races, car race and for other sports. — news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
