Hotels in the Middle East reported mixed Q1 2019 performance results, while hotels in Africa posted growth across the three key performance metrics, according to data from STR.

In the Middle East, occupancy grew by almost one percent to reach 71 percent in Q1, while the average daily rate (ADR) dropped by almost nine percent to USD 148. In Africa, occupancy grew by 1.2 percent to almost 60 percent, with an ADR of USD 116, up by two percent year-on-year.

Manama saw its first Q1 increase in RevPAR since 2014 as strong demand (+15 percent) outgrew supply (+two percent) and boosted performance levels. March was the best month of the quarter with a 17 percent rise in occupancy and a five percent lift in ADR, which resulted in a 24 percent jump in RevPAR. STR analysts partially attribute that March performance to the F1 Grand Prix at the end of the month.

In Cairo and Giza, group occupancy (grew by almost 14 percent) pushed overall market occupancy for the quarter. STR analysts note that increased stability and government campaigns to boost tourism have aided hotel performance recovery in Egypt, with further efforts being planned to attract visitors from Asia and Latin America.