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Tribune News Network
Doha
QATAR'S remarkable growth path is evident in its hotel, restaurant and caf` sectors, as the market readies itself as a tourism hub. Many suppliers, consultants and international investors have taken notice and are now capitalising on the opportunities available in the country.
The trend is driving new levels of importance and record demand for Qatar's largest hospitality trade exhibition, Hospitality Qatar 2016, taking place at the state-of-the-art Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) from October 18 to 20, 2016.
One of the highlights of Qatar's growth phase includes the need for more than 33,000 additional hotel rooms to be built prior to the FIFA World Cup 2022. At present, there are 26,653 hotel rooms in Qatar, with an anticipated need of 60,000. The added room capacity is also an integral part of Qatar's Vision 2030 to transform Qatar into a tourism hub.
The restaurant and caf` industry has also been vibrant and is showing no signs of slowing. The latest reports from BMI Research indicate the value of the hotel, restaurant and caf` industry is more than USD1.6B (up 5.4 percent versus a year ago). The research anticipates this value will rise another 38 percent to USD2.2B by 2020. The growth is fueled by increased investment as well as Qatar's rising popularity as a destination, especially amongst GCC residents, namely Saudi Arabia.
The growth in the hotel and the restaurant, and caf` sectors are happening simultaneously, staging a vibrant business environment for companies in the supply chain. This has fueled the response for the oversubscribed Hospitality Qatar 2016 exposition. Companies involved in the franchising, build-out, equipment supply, infrastructure, safety, or maintenance of hotels, restaurants and caf`s are riding the wave of opportunity unique to Qatar.
Key sponsors of Hospitality Qatar 2016, including Al Sraiya Hotels & Hospitality Group (diamond sponsor), Askar Industrial Co. (official kitchen sponsor), Boeker Qatar (associate and hygiene sponsor), Inox Kitchen Equipment (associate partner), Americana (silver sponsor), Falcon Technical & Trading Company (registration sponsor), Haidari Trading (fruit & vegetables sponsor), Felchlin, Schapfen & Master Baker (category sponsors) and Nestle, Maggi, Sadia & US Meat Export Federation (live cooking sponsors) are all seeking to claim their share of rising Horeca demand in Qatar and regionally.
The Qatar Hospitality exhibition has witnessed a 100 percent renewal rate of key sponsors as well as a higher-than-expected exhibitor turnout. Speaking on the rising success of Hospitality Qatar, Project Manager, Rawad Sleem, said:"This edition of HQ16 is already exceeding our lofty expectations and appears to be fueled by the strong growth in the building of hotels + Horeca expansion in the country. Our unique blend of B2B match-ups and learning sessions has enabled HQ to become the premier show related to hospitality in Qatar. Hospitality Qatar is playing a vital role in helping Qatar to be positioned not only as a connecting point, but a place to stay and enjoy with a lively hotel, restaurant and caf` scene. We look forward to the highly anticipated 2016 edition of Hospitality Qatar."
