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Ailyn Agonia
Doha
EXCITEMENT is building in the local hospitality sector ahead of the next FIFA World Cup to be hosted in Qatar.
Many of the prime hotels in the country have expressed optimism about the event and consider it as a golden opportunity for the industry to let the world experience Arab hospitality and promote local tourism.
Also, a number of hotel establishments across Qatar have already started laying the groundwork for their respective expansion plans and programmes aimed at contributing to the success of the debut of one of the major world sporting events in the Middle East.
"At Mondrian Doha, we are thrilled about Qatar hosting the next World Cup. We have already initiated our plans on how to properly manage the influx of tourists and fans who will be booking with us to experience the hospitality of both the city and our hotel. We view this occasion as a great opportunity to showcase Qatar and what it has to offer, not only in sport but also in arts. Mondrian Doha is a hotel that houses thriving arts and displays innovative interior design," said the hotel's General Manager Axel Gasser.
Gasser underscored the importance of innovation, design and high-quality service standards among those in the hotel industry as they play a big role in accommodating international visitors and participants.
"Mondrian Doha strives to ensure our team of globally competent employees is trained to provide a spectacular experience as travellers make their way to Doha. For the moment, we are focusing on our current layout. However, we are constantly developing our format with trailblazing ideas, activating exclusive events which the hotel has decided to continue over the next coming years. We aim to offer our guests an award-winning hotel and restaurant experience and will continue to provide guests a complete lifestyle experience making the 2022 World Cup an unforgettable adventure," Gasser added.
Four Seasons Doha General Manager Jeff Rednour described the FIFA World Cup in Qatar as a perfect introduction for the country which put it in the world stage in a very unique way.
Rednour also underlined the important role of the hospitality sector in delivering a memorable World Cup experience.
"It is very exciting for us to have such an event. It is amazing to think that we will be a part of that, share and hopefully contribute in a positive way to such a meaningful event. I think the hospitality sector can really contribute to this success. When people come here, they are coming to watch the games, but a lot of their experience is beyond that. They stay in hotels and dine in the restaurants. Their overall impressions of the matches, I think, will be tremendously influenced by the hospitality sector. We can show them the best that we have on offer in terms of Middle Eastern Arab hospitality and how we can portray the image of Qatar to the world," said Rednour.
He also mentioned the major room renovations in the works at Four Seasons Doha as well as the new concepts for its restaurants and other expansion plans in the establishment. Similarly, he stressed the opportunity to promote local tourism through the World Cup platform.
"Doha is still underrated as a tourist destination. We have always been perhaps more of a business destination but if you look around Four Seasons Doha and many other hotels across the country we are very much a resort atmosphere. We got so many local guests who come here to enjoy that destination resort experience. So, we want to convey that to a broader audience. The event is such an invitation to share what we have including the vibrant food and beverage scene with tremendous options all around the city," he said.
Holiday Villa Hotel & Residence Doha General Manager Joey Chen proudly shared the huge development projects of their establishment in preparation for the event. The exciting developments include the completion of the Holiday Villa Convention Center (HVCC) which will feature a multi-purpose hall that can accommodate up to 800 guests and penthouse restaurants with indoor and outdoor garden seating. Upgrade on its lobby and restaurants as well as room facilities to be done in several phases is also part of their grand plans.
"Holiday Villa Hotel & Residence Doha is looking forward to the programmes set in motion by Qatar. The 2022 FIFA World Cup opens opportunities to showcase the distinctive Qatari culture, state-of-the-art technology that the country has to offer and the diversity of people living in it. These factors put the State in the spotlight and attract travellers from all parts of the world, which translates to international arrivals that will greatly boost the hospitality sector's economy. By having the eyes of the world in Qatar as a core sports event hub, we are certain that hotels and other hospitality organisations are expecting colossal amount of continuous tourist arrivals and sustained high occupancy. The hospitality market will be wider, extensive, more creative and excitingly competitive," Chen said.
Further reiterating the important role of the hospitality sector in the overall preparations for World Cup, he added,"Welcoming the expected millions of fans, the hospitality sector is one of the vital elements that will make the Qatar 2022 World Cup a huge success. The increasing number of hotel keys and the emergence of distinct and high quality food and beverage outlets guarantee that the huge influx of visiting crowd's accommodation and dining requirement are taken-care of well. In addition, the strict compliance of hospitality entities to the standards classified by Qatar Tourism Authority and safety and security policies regulated by the government ensure that wavering travellers will be encouraged to come and each visiting individual will have a remarkable stay in the country."
