Marriott to open Three Hotels in Doha, Qatar

Marriott International is to add three hotels to its lodging portfolio in Doha, Qatar, under a management agreement reached with Al Rayan Tourism Investment Company, a subsidiary of Faisal Bin Qassim Al-Thani & Sons Holding Company W.L.L. (FBQHC). The additions will include:

· a 250-room Renaissance property
· a 200-room Courtyard by Marriott 
· a 120-unit Marriott Executive Apartments

They will join the 350-room Doha Marriott Gulf Hotel, which opened in 1999, and the Ramada Doha, which opened in 1995. The three new hotels are scheduled to open in 2007.

Located adjacent to the centrally-situated, mixed-use Doha City Centre mall development in the West Bay area of Doha, the three hotels are part of an 110,000-square-foot site on the western end of the mall, which will include two towers. A 24-story tower will house the Renaissance property, with some 100,000 square feet of first-class office space on the lower floors, and a 29-story tower will house the Courtyard and Marriott Executive Apartments. Both towers will be connected by a five-story podium that provides guests with direct access into the mall, and each hotel will also have a separate entrance.

"We are excited to be part of this ambitious, visionary project," said Ed Fuller, president and managing director of international lodging for Marriott International. "Travel to Doha is burgeoning, and we are pleased that local officials are working to expand the economy to include tourism by hosting such attractions as the 2006 Asian Games, a PGA European tour event and a number of tennis tournaments, including the Qatar Open."

H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani, chairman of FBQHC, said, "Having Marriott on board is a major win for us. It reflects our focus on becoming a major force in the hospitality industry.

"This is a reflection of the policy of His Highness, the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and His Highness, the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad Al-Thani, which has been a key factor in the multi-industry boom Qatar is now witnessing."

Renaissance Doha

For dining and entertainment, the Renaissance Doha will have two specialty restaurants and a casual restaurant offering buffet-style breakfast, lunch and dinner. Additionally, there will be a lobby lounge and a themed bar.

Other amenities will include a business center, an executive floor and lounge, 24-hour room service, in-room mini-bar, a health club, outdoor swimming pool, laundry and valet service, parking spaces and a lobby gift shop.

For conferences and social events, the hotel will offer 11,000 square feet of meeting space, including an 8,000-square-foot ballroom that is divisible into four sections, as well as 3,000 square feet of interconnecting meeting rooms and a 400-square-foot boardroom.

Courtyard by Marriott Doha

For dining and entertainment, the Courtyard by Marriott Doha will have a casual restaurant, a specialty restaurant and a lobby bar and lounge.

Other amenities will include an internet corner in the casual restaurant offering business center services, 24-hour room service offering a limited menu, in-room mini-bar and laundry/valet service. Courtyard guests will have access to the recreational amenities offered by the Renaissance, including the fitness center and swimming pool.

For conferences and social events, the hotel will have 2,400 square feet of meeting space, including a 1,600-square-foot main meeting room that is divisible into two sections and two 400-square-foot board rooms.

Marriott Executive Apartments Doha

The upscale Marriott Executive Apartments answers the growing international demand for temporary housing that not only provides the spaciousness and privacy of apartment living, but also offers hotel-like services and amenities. Typically, guests stay for 30 days or longer.

For dining and entertainment, the Marriott Executive Apartments Doha will share food and beverage services at the Courtyard, as well as the privacy of a residents-only lounge. For recreational amenities, residents will have a private health and leisure club and roof-top outdoor swimming pool with a spacious outdoor seating area.