Food and beverage (F&B) revenue across Abu Dhabi’s hotels and hotel apartments has risen for a fourth consecutive year, providing a timely fillip to the emirate’s fine dining credentials ahead of tonight’s Gala Opening of Gourmet Abu Dhabi - the emirate fortnight-long fine culinary festival.

The emirate’s stock of 137 accommodation providers generated collective F&B revenue of AED1.8 billion (US $491 million) last year, an 11% increase on 2011 and a mammoth 38% rise on the recorded gross in 2009 - the first year Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which organises Gourmet Abu Dhabi, began recording F&B figures.

“Gourmet Abu Dhabi’s four outings to date have featured 119 master chefs and guest chefs who between them represented 108 Michelin stars. The festival’s diverse events programmes have been attended by 32,000 guests and, as shown by these latest F&B figures, have helped galvanise the emirate’s fine dining audience of residents and international visitors,” said Noura Al Dhaheri, Leisure Products Development Manager, TCA Abu Dhabi.

Starting at tonight’s Gala Opening at the brand-new Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, Gourmet Abu Dhabi’s landmark fifth anniversary schedule features 56 international gourmet artisans from 14 nations on a 16-day culinary journey across 20 of Abu Dhabi’s fine dining restaurants.

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