Dubai Hotels Slash Room Rates By 50%

Dubai: Hotels in Dubai have slashed room rates by an average 50 to 60 per cent to attract more guests in the low summer season as occupancy has slumped and new properties have created more competition. With few trade exhibitions and conferences during summer, the number of trade visitors to the UAE drops sharply in the May-August period. Tourism authorities and the hospitality industry work on special promotions like Dubai Summer Surprises in the low season to bring in more holidaymakers as tourism has become crucial to the country's economy. But rising cost of air travel and global inflation have affected visitor numbers this year, industry sources told Gulf News. With more hotels being built in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the industry is also seeing increased competition for guests. Bilal Sayyed, general manager of travel group... [read full story]