Time Hotel Management is set to launch its first hotel in Qatar with the opening of Time Rako in the Al Wakra district of Doha in the second quarter of this year.

Time Rako – which means relaxation or enjoyment in Japanese – features over 102 rooms and suites, in a first-of-its-kind four-star product for Qatar’s mid-range market. The hotel will recreate a serene, calming environment in contrast to the hustle and bustle of its city centre location.

Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, Time Hotels, said: “With Time Rako Hotel we have created a hospitality experience that will rival Qatar’s flagship properties, but with a fresh, friendly and contemporary approach to hospitality. The hotel is fully equipped with everything the modern traveller requires and whether guests are staying with us for business or leisure – our value-based market proposition will be highly attractive.”

The opening is part of a huge expansion programme, with the company set to extend its footprint to Ajman and Fujairah in the UAE, followed by Saudi Arabia, before the end of Q4 2018.

According to a report from Colliers International, the supply of internationally branded midscale and economy rooms in Doha is expected to reach 1,600 by 2020

Time Rako Hotel is located 20 minutes from central Doha and only 15 minutes from Doha International Airport. Positioned to meet the requirements of business, leisure, Mice and family travellers, the property offers rooms and suites of various configurations, with three equipped for guests with special needs.

The hotel offers guests a 24-hour fitness and leisure centre with a variety of spa treatments, and a 24-hour all-day dining restaurant with a capacity of 90 covers, where guests can select from deli, buffet and à la carte options.

There is also a specialty seafood restaurant with outdoor terrace and open-style kitchen, a signature wood burning oven and a fresh fish display, with capacity for 84 covers and both indoor and outdoor seating options. On the rooftop is a lounge bar with a large outdoor terrace, seating over 106 guests.

Doha has predominantly been a business destination, with the corporate and Mice segments accounting for more than 75 per cent of hotel demand, a trend expected to continue in the short term.

Tapping into this high demand segment, the hotel will also offer three multipurpose rooms suitable for a range of event types. The banqueting facility can cater for up to 500 guests.

Awadalla said: “Qatar is a thriving country with a fast-paced hospitality industry, which presents new opportunities for TIME Hotels to grow its presence. Expansion is the main driver of our business development plan for 2017 and there will be new openings taking place throughout the year in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Fujairah and Ajman.

“Our current pipeline of hotels and residences meets the demands of multiple markets by offering a high-quality hotel or serviced apartment for a market segment that is currently under-represented in the regional market,” he concluded.

Time Hotels and Resorts is the Corporate Social Responsibility partner at this year’s Arabian Travel Market, in Dubai World Trade Centre (April 24-17) and will also be exhibiting on stand HC1220. - TradeArabia News Service