Doha: Built to succeed

Doha’s expansion is continuing apace. Tom Otley rounds up new hotel openings in the Qatari capital Doha has always made a good stopover destination, but as Qatar prepares for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the scale of its ambition is coming into sharp focus. The opening of the new Hamad International airport last year will have been welcomed by all travellers passing through Doha. Still, this is only part of an estimated US$40 billion currently being spent on transport projects – including the Doha Metro and a long-distance passenger and freight network – and an eventual spend on transport infrastructure of some US$200 billion before 2022. Joining the Doha Exhibition Centre and Qatar National Convention Centre is the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, opening this November. The 90,000 sqm complex has five pillar-free halls holding up to 3,500 delegates in each. There is also a greater choice of accommodation than ever before. The latest figures available (January to August 2015) show that average hotel occupancy rates have held steady (at 71 per cent) from the same period last year, despite a 32 per cent increase in the number of hotel rooms. Year-to-date visitor arrivals neared two million for the first time, up 6 per cent over the same period in 2014, bringing Qatar closer to achieving its goal of three million visitors by the end of this year. Next year will see the opening of the National Museum of Qatar designed by France’s Jean Nouvel.

NEW HOTEL OPENINGS

APARTHOTEL ADAGIO PREMIUM DOHA WEST BAY Accorhotels opened an Adagio Aparthotel in the city’s diplomatic area in October last year. It has 80 units, a combination of studios, two- and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 20 sqm to 59 sqm. All feature fully equipped kitchens, workdesks, free wifi, LCD TVs, docking stations, safes, iron/ironing boards and adjustable air conditioning. A buffet breakfast is laid on every morning and housekeeping is offered daily, weekly or as requested depending on the length of stay. There is also a 24-hour reception, a gym, indoor and outdoor pools, and a meeting room. A Lebanese restaurant is planned. The airport is about a 20-minute drive away. adagio-city.com BANANA ISLAND RESORT DOHA BY ANANTARA Anantara’s Banana Island Resort opened in January. Located 11km off Doha’s coast, the 13-hectare site can be reached by luxury boat transfer from the port in 20 minutes, or by helicopter from the airport in ten minutes. The hotel has 141 rooms, suites and villas (some over-water) starting from 55 sqm offering sea views from private balconies or terraces. Other features include an 800-metre beach, swimming pools, a private marina, spa, tennis court, bowling alley, golf putting course and eight restaurants. Note that no alcohol is served. doha.anantara.com

COMING SOON

SHANGRI-LA DOHA Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is due to make its Doha arrival in December (opening date still to be confirmed). Located in West Bay, the hotel is directly linked to City Centre Mall and is next to the new Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. It will have 272 rooms starting from 46 sqm. Other facilities include a health club, pool and spa, eight function rooms and seven restaurants and bars, including Cantonese and Argentine eateries. There will also be 42 serviced apartments available with access to hotel facilities. shangri-la.com/doha WESTIN DOHA HOTEL AND SPA Starwood is set to open its first Westin property in Qatar this month. The hotel is located in the Bin Mahmoud neighbourhood, a short taxi ride from the city centre. It houses 365 rooms, suites and villas offering free wifi and Westin’s signature Heavenly beds. There is also more than 3,000 sqm of event space, a spa, pools and a variety of eateries including a steak and seafood grill house and a Thai presentation kitchen. starwoodhotels.com/westin MONDRIAN DOHA Due to launch by the end of next year, the 270-room Mondrian will be located in a 31-storey tower in the West Bay Lagoon neighbourhood. One of the stand-out features of this luxury property will be a semi-outdoor rooftop pool bar. It will also offer restaurants serving regional and international cuisine, a spa and a huge ballroom with space for 1,500 guests. morganshotelgroup.com ME DOHA Melia Hotels International is scheduled to open a second Doha property in 2017 under its trendy ME brand. The ME Doha will be part of a new complex – Dohalive in the West Bay area – which will house shops, and a rooftop terrace and gardens. The hotel will have 235 rooms, a spa, an outdoor infinity pool, three restaurants and three bars, a nightclub and an open-air cinema. melia.com WYNDHAM GARDEN DOHA Wyndham Hotel Group has announced plans to open the Middle East’s first Wyndham Garden hotel in the capital. Set to open in 2017 in the business district, the four-star hotel will have 153 rooms with free wifi, meeting space, a fitness centre and pool. It will join the Wyndham Grand Regency Doha as Wyndham’s second property in Qatar. An airport shuttle service will be provided for guests, together with free parking. wyndham.com WALDORF ASTORIA DOHA WEST BAY Hilton Worldwide is expected to bring its Waldorf Astoria brand to Doha in 2017. Located in a 42-storey tower close to the Qatar Stock Exchange, the 250-room hotel will have a pool, spa, meeting space and a range of dining venues. There will also be 80 serviced apartments. waldorfastoria3.hilton.com THE OBEROI India’s Oberoi Group is to open two Qatar properties – a 250-room luxury hotel in West Bay and a 148-unit serviced apartment property in Lusail, the new planned city being built north of Doha. Construction begins next year, with both properties due to be completed in mid-2018. oberoihotels.com Additional reporting by Brooke Bumgarner. Visit qatartourism.gov.qa.