LONDON HVS International s London Office recently published the 2000 edition of its annual Middle East Review, which identifies trends and opportunities in the region s hotel industry. The survey confirmed that operating performance for hotels in the region were generally much improved in 1999 compared to 1998. The report focuses on a sample of 104 first-class hotels, most of them branded properties, which represent more than 31,000 rooms in 13 countries throughout the Middle East. According to Gerard Greene, a senior associate at HVS International, the region has recovered from the dampening of the Asian, Russian and Middle Eastern economies in 1998. Region-wide occupancy rates in 1999 have increased by four percentage points, to 65%. (8/16/00) Source: HVS International
