Abu Dhabi's <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/hotels">hotel</a> inventory has just become larger with the opening of the 400-room Marriott Hotel Al Forsan. Data from the research and analytics company STR shows that in February the average occupancy rate in Abu Dhabi inched up 0.1 per cent year-on-year to 76.5 per cent, and the average daily rate rose by 17.9 per cent year-on-year to Dh577.21. Revenue per available room, a key industry measure, also increased 18.1 per cent to Dh441.63. STR, however, attributed last month’s increase to events such as the five-day International Defence Exhibition and Conference, and the three-day IBTM Arabia trade fair. __________ In pictures: __________ Meetings and conferences tend to boost the otherwise lukewarm performance of hotels in the capital, especially during the slower summer months. “The continuing low oil prices, which show no signs of returning to the post-US$80 levels in the short to medium term, will continue to have a depressing effect on corporate demand for Abu Dhabi,” said John Podaras, a partner at the hospitality consultancy Hotel Development Resources in Dubai. “In the medium term, that shortfall can be replaced by [Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority’s] marketing efforts in the [meetings and conference] and special tourism sectors.” He said it is likely the existing hotel supply overhang and pipeline will continue to exert downward pressure on prices for the next two years or so. New hotels expected to open in Abu Dhabi this year include the 315-room Pearl Rotana near the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in the second quarter, followed by the Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Villas comprising 327 rooms and 13 beach villas. At the end of last year, Abu Dhabi had 30,000 rooms in 169 hotels and hotel apartments, a 3 per cent year-on-year increase, according to TCA Abu Dhabi. There are 10,000 more rooms in the pipeline in the next five years. The new Marriott in Al Forsan International Sports Resort in Khalifa City is aimed at sports enthusiasts The five-star property has six food and beverage outlets, and sports facilities such as an equestrian centre and polo field, a water ski and wakeboarding lake and two indoor paintballing areas. ssahoo@thenational.ae Follow The National's Business section on <a href="https://twitter.com/Ind_Insights">Twitter</a>