Results from the Horwath HTL latest survey show that although hotel operators in all regions of the world apart from Africa and The Middle East continue to believe that the outlook in operating performance is positive, that sentiment has less conviction than it had six months ago.

The survey, carried out every six months by Horwath HTL the world's foremost firm of hospitality consultants, concentrates on four key questions to gauge the level of industry feeling in the short term, and the key indicators driving the sentiment.

Oceania and the Asia Pacific, regions that were the least affected by the Global Financial Crisis, remain the most optimistic with survey scores of 38 and 22, albeit down from 58 and 52 six months ago. Europe and American sentiment remains positive but weak, but Africa and the Middle East, which has been so affected by Geo-Political unrest and the so-called Arab Spring, has sunk into negative territory.

Outlook for the second half of 2011 appears more optimistic. Interestingly, hoteliers in Europe and Africa and the Middle East indicated occupancy is expected to be the driver of growth in the second half of 2011.

Hoteliers in Oceania and the Americas are of the opinion Average Room Rate will drive growth in the second half of 2011.

Hoteliers from the Asian hotel market are expecting similar growth in occupancy and Average Room Rate in the second half of 2011 resulting in positive growth in total revenue.

However, with so much Economic uncertainty in the News, it remains to be seen whether that all important corporate and MICE segment feels confident enough to start booking in volume again in the second half of the year.