What's new in Qatar?

Slowly but surely Doha is building its credentials as a city of commerce as well as a new cultural centre and meetings venue. Kathi Everden takes a look at a few projects scheduled to open in the city this year.

According to Deloitte, an average daily rate at existing Doha hotels of US $292 in 2008, and a revPar of $206, makes Qatar one of the best performing hospitality markets worldwide, and given an expected 10% rise in GDP in 2009, the outlook for business continues to be bright.

But, with average occupancy at 7%, the figures highlight the commercial focus of visitor statistics where occupancies swing between almost full during the week, to less than satisfactory at weekend and during the summer and Ramadan periods.

To fill this gap, the Qatar Tourism & Exhibitions Authority (QTEA) has a remit to tempt premium leisure as well as business, medical, sports and education tourism, combining this with a cultural bouquet of new attractions, typified by the Museum of Islamic Art, which opened in December.

QTEA chairman Ahmed Abdullah Al Nuaimi said around 1.1 million visitors stayed in Qatar in 2008, up 10% on the previous year, and of these some 95% were on business:

"We are targeting 20% growth during the next five years," he said.

"Our goal is to entice all travellers coming to Qatar for business or for a stopover to stay an additional 48 hours in the country - whether to take advantage of our new cultural attractions or enjoy a desert safari and a few hours in one of our world-class spa and wellness centres," he added.

Al Nuaimi pointed out that major sporting events were also attracting visitors, citing the WTA Championship tennis, first ever night-time Moto Grand Prix, the Ladies Cycling Tour of Qatar, as well as the Asian Cup football tournament in 2011 and potential to stage the FIFA Football World Cup in 2018 and even the Olympics in 2020.

Among upcoming developments are the Pearl Qatar with a Riviera-style waterfront, five-star hotels, shopping and dining facilities plus the 35m² Lusail project that includes Qatar Entertainment City (five hotels, boardwalks, beaches, restaurants, shops, aquarium, nature reserve and Six Flags theme park) and Al Sidra Golf District (golf course, equestrian centre, tennis academy and more).

Along with the new airport, some $17 billion is being invested in Qatar's tourism infrastructure, he said, with a 400% growth in hotel capacity: "There are 9000 rooms currently available in Qatar with 6000 opening this year - 101 hotels are under construction and 29,000 rooms is the target for 2012."

In addition, a new Doha Exhibitions Centre and Tower and the Qatar National Convention Centre - with a combined floor space of 95,000m² - are on schedule to open in 2011.

W Doha Hotel & Residences

Hoping for, but not confirming, a March 1 opening date, the W Hotel in Doha marks both the beginning of the hotel room boom in the city as well as the launch of a new image for the Qatari capital.

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