Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Expected To Mean 'Increased Tourism Numbers' For Local Hotels

Abu Dhabi's hospitality industry "is set to benefit from the increased tourism numbers driven by next month's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix," according to Sananda Sahoo of THE NATIONAL. Accommodation at the Yas Viceroy is already "sold out for the race week" from Nov. 1-3. Though the hotel did not reveal "how much the race week contributes to its annual revenue, it accounts for more revenue than any other comparable period over the year." L.A.-based Viceroy Hotel Group Regional President Anton Bawab said, "It's like my wedding day. I am in my best suit, standing at the door from 7am receiving guests." Tri Hospitality Consulting Senior Consultant Rashid Aboobacker said that "occupancy and average room rates for hotels on Yas Island are typically the highest in November, much of it because of the grand prix." Aboobacker: "Average monthly occupancy in November went up to nearly 80% last year, over 15 percentage points more than the average annual occupancy for these hotels" (THE NATIONAL, 9/30).