AccorHotels, a leading hotel operator, has announced the signing of a management agreement with Al Jassim Group, one of the leading diversified business groups in Qatar, to operate the first Majlis Grand Mercure hotel in Doha, Qatar.

The signing ceremony was held today in Doha in the presence of the French Ambassador to Qatar, Eric Chevallier.

The new upscale property will be AccorHotels’ seventh hotel in Qatar, and is expected to be completed by mid-2018.

Christophe Landais, chief operating officer of AccorHotels Middle East, said: “We are delighted to partner with Al Jassim Group, and are confident that this project will mark the beginning of a long-lasting collaboration. Al Jassim Group has immense regional knowledge with respects to the local culture and business environment. Their expertise in working with international brands and adapting them to the Qatari market makes them the perfect partner for the development of the Majlis Grand Mercure in Doha.”

Majlis Grand Mercure Doha will have a total of 283 keys, consisting of 223 rooms and 60 serviced apartments. The hotel features extensive business, sports and leisure facilities, is equipped with nine F&B outlets, an infinity swimming pool located on the 9th floor that overlooks the West Bay and the Arabian Gulf sea, a health club, state-of-the-art spa, conference and meeting rooms as well as a large ballroom.

Camille E Aoun, director, business development, at Al Jassim Group, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Accor Hotels to work with us towards achieving our vision of building a unique upscale property in the heart of Doha, which will further enhance the tourism and hospitality landscape in the state of Qatar.”

Conveniently located on the C-Ring Road, one of the capital’s main arteries, the hotel will have easy access to Doha’s bustling business district, the Corniche, and the airport. It also offers convenient proximity to the Musheireb project in downtown Doha, bringing guests closer to many attractions including Souq Waqif, the Museum of Islamic Art, and the upcoming Qatar National Museum. The Majlis Grand Mercure Doha will be the tallest building in its area upon completion, providing visitors with great views over Doha.

The Majlis Grand Mercure brand embodies world-class service presented in a modern lifestyle fashion with a distinctly Arabic touch reflected in the hotels’ décor, services and overall ambiance. Each Majlis Grand Mercure hotel offers a unique, authentic experience deeply rooted in the cultural flair of its specific location. The Majlis Grand Mercure Doha’s design is therefore contemporary in style whilst being inspired by traditional elements of Qatari heritage.

The new property brings the total number of Majlis Grand Mercure hotels in the Middle East to four, following two existing properties in Madinah (Saudi Arabia) and Abu Dhabi (UAE) and another one under development in Sharjah (UAE), due to be completed by 2018.

“The agreement to develop Majlis Grand Mercure in Doha comes in response to the significant growth potential that we see in Qatar’s hospitality sector. The Qatar Tourism Authority’s vision is to attract 7.4 million visitors annually by 2030, and this will require an increase in the country’s branded hotel offerings, including a greater variety in upscale properties. With over 25 luxury and upscale properties in operation and development in the Middle East, AccorHotels is well positioned to meet this demand and bring more culturally-inspired hotels to the region, concluded Landais.

AccorHotels currently operates 76 hotels in the Middle East, encompassing over 18,500 rooms across the luxury to economy segments. The group has another 49 hotels under development in the region, bringing its total number of properties in operation and under development to 125 with just under 32,000 rooms. - TradeArabia News Service