Qatar's capital Doha has 41 projects and 11,722 rooms in its hotel construction pipeline, according to a new report.

The Doha Hotel Construction Overview report by Tophotelprojects prepared exclusively for The Hotel Show Dubai 2016, reveals that Doha is the third busiest city in the Middle East and Africa for hotel construction, behind only Dubai (133 projects) and Riyadh (47 projects).

Doha’s busiest year for hotel openings is forecast to be 2017 with 14 new properties entering the market, including: Pullman Doha West Bay (468 rooms), JW Marriott West Bay (297 rooms), Hilton Garden Inn Doha Al Sadd (225 rooms), and Millennium Plaza Doha (232 rooms).

Francois Kassab, chief operating officer, Millennium & Copthorne Middle East & Africa, behind the Millennium Plaza Doha development opening early 2017, said: “We currently have three properties in Doha and believe the city has great potential to grow its hospitality sector.”

“According to the Qatar Tourism Authority, three million people visited Qatar in 2015, and they are aiming to attract four million tourists per year by 2020,” Kassab continued. “The plans are part of the country’s efforts to boost tourism GDP (gross domestic product) contribution over the next decade, supported by $40-$45 billion worth of investment under its National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030. Qatar is working to position itself as a world-class hub with deep cultural roots, by creating a high profile product that will appeal to all market segments from cultural tourists and families to sports fans and business travellers. We are confident that by offering a range of different brands – Millennium, Millennium Plaza, Copthorne and Kingsgate – we can cater towards these different market segments.”

The five-star Millennium Plaza Doha will open as part of the new Barwa Al Sadd development located in the heart of Doha. Comprising four high-rises offering commercial, residential and office space, the major project, currently under construction, will also offer a range of restaurants, shops and recreational facilities.
 
Kassab added: “Barwa Al Sadd is set to be an exciting new addition to the city for both visitors and residents. Millennium Plaza Doha will be the only hotel within the development, offering an ideal base for business and leisure trips as well as for residents looking for a central location for business meetings, dining or celebrations.”

Tophotelprojects will present on development hotspots in the Middle East and Africa including Doha at the fourth edition of The Hotel Show Dubai’s annual Vision Conference, part of the “Update on market and consumer patterns and trends: get the inside track” panel discussion on September 18 2016, 11:00-11:50am.

The Hotel Show, taking place next month from September 17 to 19 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, is the region’s ultimate platform for hospitality industry professionals to source new products, network and learn in the region’s hub for hotel construction: Dubai. - TradeArabia News Service