Qatar boom brings spate of new hotels in 2012

Qatar and in particular Doha continues to experience a major boom in hotel development with large international hotel chains and companies rushing to become a part of one of the fastest growing countries in the world.

A raft of new hotels ranging from luxurious five star sanctuaries, to budget inns are set to open in Qatar’s largest city, Doha over the next few years, revolutionising this destination which offered only one luxury hotel ten years ago.

More than US $100 billion worth of infrastructure is due to be completed before 2022 – the year that FIFA comes to town - including the construction of 77 new hotels and 42 hotel apartments in Qatar.

This will bring a total of 21,107 new rooms into the Qatari hospitality market. Many of these are luxury hotels offering the finest service and facilities, including world class restaurants and spas.

In 2011 alone, it is estimated a stock of 6,369 hotel rooms - comprised of 25 hotels and 10 hotel apartments - have come on to the market.

Despite this surge of new hotel openings, occupancy rates for the third quarter in 2011 revealed an overall four percent increase in compared the previous year with figures peaking in September, reflecting ongoing demand and interest in the destination.

Mr. Ahmed Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Qatar Tourism Authority, said the growth in hotel revenues and visitor figures show the success of the country’s national tourism strategy which in turn supports the growth of the country and its aim to diversify the economy.

Mr Al Nuaimi’s revealed that average room occupancy rate for hotels in the third quarter for the period from July to September 2011 was 48 percent, compared with an average room occupancy rate (44%) during the same period of 2010.

Meanwhile July recorded average occupancy rates of 50 percent versus 48 percent last year. However September’s figures saw an increase of 11 percent – 55 percent compared to 44 percent in 2010.

With at least fourteen new hotels in the pipeline, BTN has investigated some of the new hotels that are set to open in the destination, which was voted Middle East’s Leading Business Destination by the World Travel Awards, over the next few months.

Lire la suite : http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/focus/article/qatar-boom-brings-spate-of-new-hotels-in-2012/

Source : Breaking travel news