Hotel group unveils plans at UK event

Katara Hospitality, which is participating in the World Travel Market London, 2012 for the first time as an independent exhibitor, chose the leading global event for the travel industry to reveal its international expansion strategy. “During the past year, we doubled our portfolio by acquiring iconic hotels in key markets in Europe, Africa and Asia,” Hamad Abdulla al-Mulla, Katara Hospitality Chief Executive Officer, said. “As we are aiming to become one of the leading hospitality organisations in the world, our strategic plans for international expansion will lead Katara Hospitality to achieving its goals,” he added. As an experienced asset manager, developer and operator, Katara Hospitality’s international expansion strategy is articulated around three clearly defined pillars -investments in iconic properties, diversification and pioneering emerging markets. Keen on preserving the industry heritage, Katara Hospitality is acquiring iconic properties that once set the standards in the field and today represent a hospitality legacy, while committing to further invest to bringing them back to their former glory and turn them into thriving businesses. Operational hotels such as Raffles Singapore, Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris, Schweizerhof Bern and upcoming hotels such as Excelsior Gallia Milan, Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, Royal Savoy Lausanne or The Peninsula Paris are hospitality jewels that are now part of Katara Hospitality portfolio. “With decades of glorious history, these hotels have undertaken significant renovation works and have opened or are due to open in the near future as true hospitality gems that testify our commitment to preserving their heritage,” al-Mulla said. Recognising the relevance of contemporary dynamics and the increasing demand in international business tourism, Katara Hospitality said it focuses on developing a network of first class business hotels. “Katara Hospitality considers hotels that are located in key destinations as viable business opportunities. They should ensure a presence in premium areas, offering services tailored to the needs of discerning business travellers and enticing recreational facilities,” al-Mulla said. Currently, the properties owned and managed by Katara Hospitality in Qatar form an eclectic portfolio of hotels that can cover a large area of demand, from high-end business travellers to more cost conscious ones, while catering successfully to the MICE segment and offering outstanding recreational facilities. The company’s diversification strategy of introducing four star business hotels and leisure resorts located in potential markets is meant to penetrate the corporate market segment, enhance the cash flow projections to support the company’s development and ensure a balance is met across assets of short- and long-term profitability. Katara Hospitality said it is currently evaluating investment opportunities in business and leisure hotels in Western Europe, North Africa and Arab Peninsula, as well as South-East Asia and North America.   Katara Hospitality portfolio currently includes some 26 properties operational or under construction located in key destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia with more than 5,000 rooms operational or under development.