U.S., June 27 -- Despite an almost double-digit uptick in average room rate, year-over-year profit per room at hotels in the Middle East & North Africa dropped in May. GOPPAR fell 2.4% YOY even though average room rate rose 9.7% to $183.70, a high for the year.

The rise in ARR came at the expense of occupancy, which dropped 6 percentage points YOY. The decline appears to be an unwanted trend and not an isolated event. On a month-on-month basis, room occupancy fell by almost 24 percentage points, to just 54.1%, a stark contrast from the punchy top-line performance in April.

RevPAR in the month was down 1.2% YOY to $99.31.

The drop in RevPAR was exacerbated by a hit to ancillary revenues, with YOY declines recorded in the Food & Beverage...