Katara Hospitality, the global owner, developer and operator of iconic hotels based in Qatar, has announced the opening of The Peninsula Paris, following an extensive four-year restoration.

The Peninsula Paris now becomes the 18th operational hotel in Katara Hospitality’s portfolio of 28 properties around the world.

Jointly owned by Katara Hospitality and The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels (HSH), The Peninsula Paris offers 200 rooms and suites, six restaurants and bars, expansive terraces – including one on the rooftop with a 360-degree view of Paris and its most beautiful monuments - luxury boutiques, the Peninsula Spa and private reception rooms.

The Peninsula Paris, which brings a new level of opulence and comfort to the luxury hospitality offerings in the City of Light, is located at 19 Avenue Kléber in the heart of the elegant 16th arrondissement.

“I am excited and proud to announce the latest addition to The Peninsula Hotels’ family, The Peninsula Paris,” said Clement Kwok, CEO of the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, in his speech at the opening ceremony.

“This will be our tenth Peninsula hotel but only our first hotel in Europe. Together with our partners Katara Hospitality, it has taken four years to design and build this magnificent contemporary hotel, with state-of-the-art facilities, within this beautiful historic building which as a result has been restored to its former glory.

“As a company, HSH is genuinely committed to the long term and focuses on developing, as an owner-operator, a small number of the highest quality Peninsula hotels in the most prime locations in key international gateway cities. After many years of searching for a suitable project in Europe, I am delighted that we are making our entry in one of the most magical cities in the world, Paris,” Kwok added.

Nicolas Béliard, general manager of The Peninsula Paris, said: “We are thrilled to welcome our first guests today. My team and I have watched this project evolve, from a lifeless building to a worksite, and ultimately to the magnificent structure you see before you - we have worked together to give this historic building a new life.”

Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, and Fleur Pellerin, Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, the Promotion of Tourism and French Nationals Abroad, highlighted how important these investments are to drive growth and create full-time employment, and to showcase the French savoir-faire and patrimony.

They stressed that the opening of this hotel has already created 530 full-time jobs, a figure due to increase to 600 by the end of the year, in addition to the 3000 workers, master craftsmen, architects, etc. who have worked on the restoration of the hotel.

They added that the choice of France and Paris for the first entry into Europe by this international group highlights this destination as the leading tourist destination in the world.

Katara Hospitality’s 18 operational properties are in Qatar, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Germany, The Netherlands, Egypt, Singapore and Thailand. It has another 10 properties under renovation or in development, in seven countries, including Qatar, Switzerland, Italy and Morocco.  Its goal is to have 30 properties in its portfolio by 2016, with another 30 by 2030. – TradeArabia News Service