Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts has signed an agreement with H.E Mohammed Bin Ajaj Al-Kubaisi to open the Intercontinental Doha West Bay in Qatar by March 2009.
The 60-storey property will offer 540 rooms and serviced apartments in the Qatari capital city centre, close to the business district and main commercial area.
It will feature a state-of-the art conference centre aimed at attracting corporate and government-related businesses ” both domestic and international - to the city, looking for Meetings, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition (MICE) facilities. In addition, a club lounge and business centre will be available to business class guests.
”Doha has established itself as a key player in the Middle East with a high international profile,” said Intercontinental Hotels Group chief executive, Andy Cosslett. ”The fact that we are developing a second Intercontinental in the city is a testament to Doha”s progression and its ambitious plan to invest $15bn (”7.5bn) in tourism infrastructure and increase the number of visitors by 150% before 2010.”
Doha International Airport is being expanded and upgraded at an estimated cost of $2bn - due for completion by 2015 ” to support this projected growth. By that time the national carrier Qatar Airways aims to treble its fleet of Airbus A350 to 120.
”Intercontinental Doha West Bay will stand out as an iconic building in the centre of this thriving city and we”re confident it will quickly build a global reputation for excellence,” said H.E Mohammed Bin Ajaj Al-Kubaisi.