David Henry, vice-president marketing, sales and distribution for Accor. PICTURE: Jayan Orma
By Peter Alagos/Business Reporter
European hotel operator Accor is expected to open 1,000 rooms following the completion of four additional hotels in Qatar by 2016 and 2017 in anticipation of the country’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2022, the company’s senior official told Gulf Times.
“These new hotels will complement our two hotels currently operating in Qatar – the Mercure Grand Hotel City Center and Adagio Premium Doha West Bay,” said David Henry, who is vice-president marketing, sales and distribution for Accor.
According to Henry, the four additional hotels would be the Pullman Doha Bridge Towers West Bay, Adagio Doha, M Gallery Doha Msheireb, and the Ibis Doha.
“From what I have read in the media, 60,000 rooms must be made available during the World Cup and Qatar does not have this level of rooms today.
“But Qatar is doing the right thing in terms of the massive construction boom, particularly in Doha,” said Henry, who was in Qatar recently for the Middle East launch of Accor’s “Welcome Project,” which allows guests to check-in online.
Earlier, Ernst and Young’s Middle East Hotel Benchmark Survey reported a 71% increase in occupancy rates in Doha for the first 11 months of 2014 compared to the 68% recorded in 2013.
The surge in occupancy and 0.9% increase in the average room rate to $234 translated as a healthy 14.2% in rooms yield to $168 in January-November 2014.
In November alone, Doha hotels’ rooms’ yield soared 23.2% year-on-year to $204 owing to 12% increase in average room rate to $247 and 7% in occupancy to 82%.
“Tourism is a big ecosystem, not only with hotels. Events such as the World Cup are making sure that the ‘mayonnaise’ or the chemistry is working. And all of this will actually work because construction work on transportation and the stadiums will be assets for the future,” Henry stressed.
He also noted that the staging of the World Cup in 2022 will be a key driver for growth in Qatar’s tourism sector, and would create a significant impact on the country’s hospitality business.
“It is today that you prepare the success of tomorrow,” said Henry, who added that staging international sport competitions provides the host destination strong visibility to all countries participating in the event.
“When organising a world competition, all eyes are on the host country,” he stressed.
Henry also said brisk businesses would be gained from the arrival of participating teams and fans for the duration of the event, including a sharp rise in Qatar’s meeting, incentive, conference, and exhibition (MICE) industry spurred by “post-event effects.”
According to Henry, the hosting of the World Cup plays a significant role expediting a certain number of projects in terms of renovation and hospitality.
“Dubai has made itself a MICE destination in the Middle East by creating an outstanding environment. But Qatar also has a lot of spectacular sport events, so what is remarkably being done here in Qatar is the fact that it is trying to gain sustainability through sports,” he noted.
He added, “We believe in the Middle East market and Doha will definitely be one of the destinations where we are going to strengthen our presence.”
