JEDDAH – The Middle East/Africa region reported mostly negative performance results in July 2012 in US dollar terms, the latest data compiled by STR Global revealed. The region's occupancy decreased 4.9 percent to 56.7 percent during the month, its average daily rate increased 2.1 percent to $140.67 and its revenue per available room fell 3.0 percent to $79.72. “Ramadan, which took place July 20 to Aug. 19, impacted the results across the Middle East,” said Elizabeth Randall Winkle, managing director of STR Global. “Ramadan took place during August last year. The holy cities of Makkah and Medinah reported RevPAR increases of 90.9 percent and 33.0 percent, respectively,” she added. “When measured in local currency, Beirut (Lebanon) reported sharp RevPAR declines (-39.2 percent) for July 2012 compared to last year as the Syrian crisis has deterred travelers to neighboring Lebanon,” Winkle added. July is the first month that average room rates and occupancy declined by around 20 percent. Among the region's key markets for July 2012, Sandton – a wealthy area situated within the metro of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa – and the surrounding areas, reported the largest occupancy increase, rising 10.3 percent to 61.1 percent. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (+7.9 percent to $228.98), and Amman, Jordan (+7.0 percent to $156.58) achieved the largest ADR increases for the month. Jeddah was the only key market to report a RevPAR increase, rising 12.7 percent to $191.53. Beirut ended the month with the largest decreases in all three key performance metrics. Its occupancy fell 19.3 percent to 53.9 percent, its ADR was down 25.2 percent to $195.78 and its RevPAR decreased 39.6 percent to $105.48. – SG
