Having noted that a few influential travel guidebooks seem to favour Sharm over Hurghada, I was wondering what impact these reports will have on potential future demand.

Of course, I'm aware that the advantages of Hurghada over Sharm are that you buy the freehold in the former and only the leasehold in the latter. In addition, they have been no terrorist attacks in Hurghada (touch wood!), unlike the Sinai peninsula. But to what extent is history a good indicator of the future, given terrorism's unpredictable nature?

I am right in thinking that Hurghada also has an advantage over Sharm for better nightlife/clubbing etc and cheaper cost of living etc?

Here is an extract from the RoughGuides' view on Hurghada:

"
Hurghada (Ghardaka)

In the course of two decades, HURGHADA has been transformed from a humble fishing village of a few hundred souls into a booming town of over 100,000 people, drawn here from all over Egypt by the lure of making money. This phenomenal growth is almost entirely due to tourism, which accounts for 95 percent of the local economy. Yet it's worth taking Hurghada's claims to be a seaside resort with a handful of salt. Unlike Sinai, where soft sand and gorgeous reefs are within easy reach and women can bathe unhassled, Hurghada's public beaches are distant or uninviting, while the best marine life is far offshore. If you're not into diving or discos, you'll soon find that Hurghada lacks charm – though you have to admire its commercial gusto; many of the townsfolk come from Luxor's west bank, where tourism has been a way of life for generations.
While package tourists laze in their resorts, independent travellers often feel hard done by. Paying for boat trips and private beaches is unavoidable if you're to enjoy Hurghada's assets, and although conditions for diving, windsurfing and deep-sea fishing are great, the cost is high, with real bargains limited to accommodation. Nor will you save much by self-catering; everything in the shops is more expensive than in Cairo or the Nile Valley. As tour groups come all year round, there's no "off" season for holiday villages, whose peak times are the European Christmas and Easter holidays and the Russian vacation period of August and September. Low-budget hotels are most in demand over winter, when backpackers use Hurghada as a transit point between the Nile Valley and the Sinai.
The town itself is a hotchpotch of utilitarian structures, garish hotels, gaudy boutiques and sporadic patches of waste ground. Most of the coastline from Ed-Dahar down to New Hurghada is shielded from view by the line of holiday resorts, so if you've come for the beach, be prepared to pay for the pleasure. While some may be put off by the city's out-and-out commercialism, other tourists will take solace in what they can discover underwater: a score of coral islands and reefs within a few hours' reach by boat, and many other amazing dive sites that can be visited on liveaboards.

To be honest we all know Sharm is well known by tourists,Hurghada has yet to be put on the map as a tourist destination,this will take time.
Whilst most of the tourist guides or books name Sharm as the top tourist hot spot within Egypt, there is really nothing to support Hurghada at the moment.
I have talked to a lot of friends who have been or heard of Sharm but when you start telling them of Hurghada there is only one question,Where is that?.
I'm sure in time Hurghada amongst other resorts in Egypt will become popular hotspots it's up to us to try and promote what we have learnt.

I would like to know, if hurghada is not popular by british tourists then why are the planes always full and where do they all go after leaving the airport you never see brits just walking around.

Hi Sharm is one of the best night time destinations in the red sea. It has Pascha nightclub and Little Buddha, The Bus Stop, Hard Rock and numerous bars and hotels where you can find lots of night time entertainment.
Sharm is cheaper to fly to than Hurghada. Eating and drinking out is very cheap and prices I found on a par with Hurghada. Old Market in Sharm is alot cheaper than Naama Bay.

And having spent a week in Hurgada in November and soon to spend a week in Sharm (from next Sunday) I will give my unbiased opinion in a couple of weeks time.

Mark .y.