Hilton inks deal for 2 new Qatar hotels

Hilton Worldwide and Qatar's Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company (ARTIC) on Tuesday announced an agreement for two new hotels in Doha. The management deal has been signed for two new DoubleTree by Hilton properties. Both developments, the 145-room DoubleTree by Hilton Doha - Al Sadd and the 240-room DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Doha, are expected to open in 2014, the companies said in a statement. They will join a further three Hilton Worldwide pipeline properties due to open in Qatar over the next three years, the statement added. DoubleTree by Hilton Doha - Al Sadd will be located in Doha's main commercial and retail district and will include a health club, an outdoor pool, two restaurants, a lobby lounge and a bar. It will also feature two boardrooms, four meeting rooms and a business centre. The DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Doha will include a mix of one, two and three-bedroom accommodations within a luxury, 52-storey, high-rise complex located in the Doha financial and diplomatic districts of West Bay. Targeting the growing number of guests seeking mid to long-term stays, facilities will include a function room, four meeting rooms, two boardrooms as well as a business centre, a health club and spa and an outdoor pool. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, chairman of Al Faisal Holding, the parent company of ARTIC, said: "We're delighted to be working with Hilton Worldwide to bring such prominent properties to the growing landscape of Doha. "The addition of the DoubleTree by Hilton to our portfolio reflects our clear investment focus on high quality assets as we continue to grow the business both locally and internationally." As the world's fastest growing economy, Qatar is experiencing a surge in visitor numbers, particularly business travellers, as the country embarks on a record number of construction and infrastructure developments. Headline plans include a new airport capable of handling 50 million passengers, a $5bn deepwater seaport with large cruise ship terminal, a causeway linking Qatar to Bahrain as well as a network of projects required to support the staging of the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Hilton Worldwide, Middle East & Africa, added: "With today's announcement, our commitment in Doha, over the next three years, will see the opening of five new properties and the launch of three Hilton Worldwide brands including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn." The agreement is part of Al Faisal Holding's vision to enhance its investments in the hospitality sector with a goal to own 25 hotels in key cities by 2020. Tuesday's announcement brings the number of owned hotels to 18 located across Middle East and Europe in Qatar, London, Egypt and North Africa. Hilton Worldwide currently operates 56 properties in Middle East and Africa, totalling more than 16,500 rooms across 19 countries.