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Qatar hotel group to unveil expansion strategy

Doha, April 9, 2012

Qatar National Hotels Company (QNH) is set to unveil its strategic expansion programme, both regional and  global, at the upcoming Arabian Travel Market expo in Dubai.

QNH, the Doha-based hospitality giant, plays a vital role in positioning Qatar as a global hospitality player, as part of the government’s far-reaching National Vision 2030 economic development and diversification programme, said its top official.

'We have been at the forefront of Qatar’s development since its creation, and are responsible for growing the country’s hospitality product,' remarked QNH chairman Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani.

'In addition to introducing the world’s best known luxury hotel brands to this market, we are also targeting business travellers through our own Merweb group of hotels,” Sheikh Nawaf stated.

According to Euromonitor International, inbound visitor numbers for Qatar are expected to reach 1.6 million by 2014, up from just under one million in 2009.

The hotel occupancy rates rose in the third quarter of 2011 reflecting increasing demand and interest in tourism in the Gulf state as Qatar prepares to host the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee recently confirmed that the World Cup will contribute significantly to the country’s tourism coffers, with annual tourist arrivals into Qatar forecast to increase to 3.7 million by 2022.

According to the Qatar Tourism Authority, more than 6,000 hotel rooms, with 25 hotels and 10 hotel apartments, opened up in the market in 2011, with average room occupancy rates continuing their upward trend for the period July to September 2011 reaching 48 per cent, up 4 per cent over 2010.

Sheikh Nawaf said QNH has already added to its portfolio in 2012 with the acquisition of two iconic Raffles properties in Singapore and Paris - the iconic Raffles Hotel Singapore and the famous Le Royal Monceau – Raffles, Paris.

'An investment agreement was also signed between QNH and Moroccan government in late 2011 for redevelopment of Tangier’s historic Tazi Palace. Under this deal, QNH will be investing $55 million to convert the former palace into a five-star luxury hotel,' he stated.

“Our focus is to use our investment wealth to continue on the path of success that we have achieved in recent years through our thriving portfolio of Qatar-based hotels, and growing portfolio of international properties, and to invest today for future generations,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service




Tags: tourism | hotels | World Cup | Qatar National Hotels Company | Arabian Travel Market |

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