More hotels are slated to open in the Middle East, even as the average cost for a night in a top-line room has come down.
The French company Accor, which runs more than a dozen hotel brands in 90 countries, has announced plans to build 18 more hotels in the Middle East by 2014 in addition to the 36 it already has.
Many of the rooms will target the growing number of tourists looking for economy or mid-market places to stay. Last year, Accor's daily rate in the Middle East dropped 12 per cent to Dh567 (US$154.37) compared with 2009, while the number of rooms it booked grew 23 per cent to 1.275 million.
Accor, known for its luxury hotels such as the Sofitel and Pullman chains, as well as the economy brand ibis, is also introducing a mid-market, long-stay hotel to the Gulf called Adagio.
The first location, due to open near the entrance of Abu Dhabi Island between October and early next year, will mimic the Adagio apartment hotels that operate in Europe.
While the UAE already has many luxury long-stay apartment hotels, says Christophe Landais, the managing director of Accor Middle East, "not everyone can afford five-star or even four-star hotels, especially families". Accor says it hopes to provide a more affordable option.
The new hotel will offer guests the use of a washing machine, kitchen and internet.
Analysts and hotel executives say long-stay hotel apartments are less costly to run, as they typically lack ballrooms, lobbies and restaurants.
