Impact of downturn revealed as hotel rooms slump during November and December

Hotel revenue in Dubai fell away by a quarter in December, reflecting the fall in visitors to the emirate because of the global downturn.

Travel research firm STA Global said revenue per room slipped 25.9% in the month compared with the same period in 2007. This was a two-thirds increase on the figure for November, when rates fell 15.5%. The slippages meant revenue per room rates fell by 2.2% during 2008.

Evidence of how quickly the downturn has caught up with Dubai was revealed in the news that revenue from rooms in Dubai during October was up 17.7% on the previous October.

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