Katara Hospitality, a Qatar-based deluxe hospitality company, has unveiled plans to build the Lusail Marina Iconic Development.

Announcing its plans at Dubai’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Hamad Abdulla Al Mulla, CEO, Katara Hospitality, said: “This stunning structure matches our aspiration for Katara Hospitality to become one of the world’s most recognised hospitality brand identities.

“With an architectural design inspired by the insignia of Qatar, the Lusail Marina Iconic Development’s spectacular architecture is set to become a leading hospitality landmark,” he said

The property, designed for five-star luxurious status, is set to hold approximately 800 units comprising hotel rooms, residence apartments, offices, recreational facilities, specialist boutiques and top-class restaurants.

The breathtaking ‘crossed sword’ shape of the towers, which gracefully intertwine, replicates the Qatar seal and, integrated with landscaped gardens, rises from a podium giving the impression that the entire architectural complex is floating on the sea, he said.

Al Mulla added: “The modern aesthetic of the Lusail Marina Iconic Development complements the more traditional properties we have in our eclectic portfolio of hotels, which are great examples of classic architecture.”

Aiming to be operational by 2016, the Lusail Marina Iconic Development will be constructed in the Marina district of Lusail – the latest planned urban centre in the country. Lusail is set to be located on the Gulf coast 15km north of Doha city centre and will eventually provide accommodation for up to 250,000 people.

“Naturally, the Lusail Marina Towers will be ideally located for travelling football fans, officials and professionals as the Qatar Football World Cup arrives in a decade’s time,” said Al Mulla.

“And long after the dust of the World Cup has settled, the property will be a perfect getaway for Middle East leisure travelers looking for luxury accommodation as Qatar’s landscape offers more for tourists every year,” said Al Mulla.

Katara Hospitality currently owns five internationally branded hotels in Qatar: Sharq Village & Spa, The Ritz-Carlton Doha, Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, Doha Marriott Hotel and Mövenpick Hotel Doha. Two Merweb branded hotels – the Merwebhotel Central Doha and Merwebhotel Al Sadd Doha – and a third, the Merwebhotel City Centre Doha, which is scheduled to open in 2013, complete its domestic portfolio. In addition, it also owns and manages the Sealine Beach Resort, one of Qatar’s favourite vacation spots.

Katara Hospitality’s international portfolio currently includes the Raffles Hotel Singapore, Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris, Schweizerhof Hotel Bern and Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Golden View Beach Resort in Egypt. International properties under development include Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne (opening 2014), Royal Savoy Lausanne (opening 2013), Gallia Hotel Milan (opening 2013), The Peninsula Hotel Paris (opening 2013), another five star luxury boutique hotel in Paris (opening 2013), Comoros Beach Resort (opening 2014), Tazi Palace Hotel Tangier (opening 2014).

Katara Hospitality was formerly operated under the Qatar National Hotels Company (QNH) brand. Its new corporate identity was launched at the ATM this year.  – TradeArabia News Service